the common usage of a copy constructor

[yuzhang]

Hi all:

In C++, what are the common usages of a copy constructor? I know construtor can be used to initilize the object, but have not heard anything about how to use a copy construtor.

Thanks

[Lerner]

Two common places for a programmer to use the copy constructor are:

MyClass one; //uses default constructor
MyClass two(one); //uses copy constructor
MyClass three = one; //uses copy constructor

The compiler will also use the copy costructor and you aren't aware of it, unless you are intimately familiar with how a compiler works; which is why all classes need a copy contructor and the compiler will provide one if you don't.

[Rashakil Fol]

Don't forget

return three; // uses copy constructor

some_function(three);
// uses copy constructor unless passed by reference

Of course, a compiler could behave magically and optimise away a copy constructor call.

[pramodg]

How can we write an object into the file. and how can we retrieve it later

[Narue]

Please don't resurrect a year old thread with an unrelated question.