constructor & destructors

Hi,


Can anyone tell me what is the best way to develop classes, the book i am reading has a few ways to develop them and i can't see an obvious reason for using any of them, i am using constructors to access variables but the book had 1 or 2 other ways to do the same thing!

Which one do i use or is it a case of using the best one suited for the job?

While i am here, what is the purpose of the destructor?

> i am using constructors to access variables
What ? Do you mean initialize ?
You have to give short examples of the 'ways' you saw, to recieve any meaningful answer.

Destructors, as their name says, destroy.
Suppose you have a 'human' object.
When the human dies, a lot of work has to be done.. (funeral, death certificate ..etc !).
It is the destructor's responsibility to do that cleanup work.

Also get familiar with the "Rule of Three", while you're at it.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by manasij7479

> i am using constructors to access variables
What ? Do you mean initialize ?
You have to give short examples of the 'ways' you saw, to recieve any meaningful answer.

Destructors, as their name says, destroy.
Suppose you have a 'human' object.
When the human dies, a lot of work has to be done.. (funeral, death certificate ..etc !).
It is the destructor's responsibility to do that cleanup work.

Also get familiar with the "Rule of Three", while you're at it.

---

Termonology at this stage is not my strong suit, i'm not sure i can give you a clear example of what i am trying to say, also, can you please explain why i have to be firmiliar with the "rule of three"?

Rule of three (C++ programming) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Quote:

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Originally Posted by manasij7479

Rule of three (C++ programming) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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read it, dont get it, should i just quit trying to learn C++!

well, posting in this forum certainly helped!!! :/

Code:

---

#include <iostream>
#include <string>
using namespace std;
class parent{
private:
    string name;
public:
//setter method
    void setName(string Name) { name = Name; }
//getter method
    string getName() { return name; }
};
int main(){
//declaring object
parent father;
//initializing variables (assigning)
father.setName("John");
//output to screen
cout<< father.getName() <<endl;
}

---

or i can do it this way!

Code:

---

#include <iostream>
#include <string>
using namespace std;
class parent{
private:
    string name;
public:
//constructor & destructor
    parent(string);
    ~parent();
//getter method
    string getName() { return name; }
};
parent::parent(string name){
    this -> name = name;
};
parent::~parent(){
//deconstructor
};
int main(){
// declaring object
    parent john("John");
//screen output
    cout<< john.getName();
}

---

both ways are basically doing the same thing so which one do i use?