Setting default param vals?

I'm looking through some code and see

Code:

---

void myclass::myfunc():
a(0),
b("hello")
{
 //code
}

---

I'm having trouble finding anything on google that tells me what this is. What is the purpose of this syntax? Are these optional paramaters that are being given default values?

It is called a initializer list. Basically, it initializes member variables with a given value.
(This is different from assigning since assigning calls the assignment operator and initialization will call a constructor.)

This like a incorrect attempt of using initialization list. The reason it is incorrect is that initialization lists only work with constructors not member functions.

Code:

---

void myclass::myclass(): a(0), b("hello")
{
}

---

Would be correct if your class had a variable named a and a string variable named b.
See this link on initialization lists.

Jim