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Java Java Objects Creating the MVP Prompting for Guesses

Brendan Passey
Brendan Passey
999 Points
Posted by Brendan Passey
Brendan Passey
999 Points

Difference between a method and a constructor.

I'm really not sure what a constructor is used for. I know that it differs from a method in that a constructor requires you to pass in an argument.... But that's about all I know about it.... What is a constructor?

3 Answers

Steven Parker
Steven Parker
231,268 Points
Steven Parker
Steven Parker
231,268 Points

A constructor is a special method that is automatically invoked when you create a new object instance, and never used for anything else.

A custom constructor can take arguments but the default one that the language provides for you when you don't write your own does not. And a constructor cannot return anything.

Ezekiel dela Peña
Ezekiel dela Peña
6,231 Points
Ezekiel dela Peña
Ezekiel dela Peña
6,231 Points

The main difference between method and constructor is

Constructor can only be could when you are creating an instance of object.

public class Game {
   // This is a constructor
   public Game() {
   }

   // This is a method
   public void sampleMethod() {
   }
}

NOTE: by default when creating a class even if you didn't write a constructor, Java will do it for you.

Example:

Game game = new Game(); // <--- this how you create an instance of for example a Game.

Now remember how do you usually call a method?

game.Game(); // This will not work since Game() is a constructor which should only be called when creating an instance

Now a method is something you could call after creating an instance.

game.sampleMethod();
Brendan Passey
Brendan Passey
999 Points
Brendan Passey
Brendan Passey
999 Points

Thanks guys I took a break and came back and worked through it all again. I understand this stuff now but thanks for the answers!