A Function prototype I don't recognize...

Hi, I'm working through a Win32 C++ tutorial here: http://www.relisoft.com/win32/index.htm and there's a function definition (and implementation) within a class definition that I don't recognize. I wouldn't be too bothered but they use it all the time. Here's the code:

Code:

class WinSimpleClass
{
	public:
		WinSimpleClass (char const * name, HINSTANCE hInst)
			: _name (name), _hInstance (hInst)
		{}
		
		WinSimpleClass (int resId, HINSTANCE hInst);
		char const * GetName () const { return _name.c_str (); }
		HINSTANCE GetInstance () const { return _hInstance; }
		HWND GetRunningWindow ();
	
	protected:
		HINSTANCE	_hInstance;
		std::string	_name;
};

The bit I don't understand is this:

Code:

		WinSimpleClass (char const * name, HINSTANCE hInst)
			: _name (name), _hInstance (hInst)
		{}

Can anyone explain to me what this colon, followed by what appears to be two typecasts of some description(???!!), that precedes the function body means? (i've looked through just about every C++ tutorial to no avail )

Any help would be much appreciated.

Thanks,

Dom

WinSimpleClass() is the constructor for the WinSimpleClass class and the values after the : are member variables of class WinSimpleClass that are being initialised as:
_name = name
_hInstance = hInst

Code:

WinSimpleClass (char const * name, HINSTANCE hInst)
			: _name (name), _hInstance (hInst)

		{}

That code defines a constructor for the WinSimpleClass and,

: _name (name), _hInstance (hInst)

is called an initializer list. The result of the above code is the same as doing this:

Code:

WinSimpleClass (char const * name, HINSTANCE hInst)
}			
	_name = name;
	_hInstance = hInst;
}

However, the process is different. When you use an intializer list, the initial value is used to initialize the data member as it's created, which can be a much more efficient process than using assignment statements in the body of the constructor, particularly if the data member is a class instance.

Plus, the only way to initalize constants in a class is via the initalizer list.

Many thanks guys,

everything is now clear :-))

Dom