Dr Bharti Sharma
Constructor Chaining In Java with Examples
Constructor chaining is the process of calling one constructor from another constructor with respect to current
object.
One of the main use of constructor chaining is to avoid duplicate codes while having multiple constructor (by
means of constructor overloading) and make code more readable.
Constructor chaining can be done in two ways:
Within same class: It can be done using this() keyword for constructors in the same class
From base class: by using super() keyword to call the constructor from the base class.
Constructor chaining occurs through inheritance. A sub-class constructor’s task is to call super class’s constructor
first. This ensures that the creation of sub class’s object starts with the initialization of the data members of the
superclass. There could be any number of classes in the inheritance chain. Every constructor calls up the chain till
the class at the top is reached.
Why do we need constructor chaining?
This process is used when we want to perform multiple tasks in a single constructor rather than creating a code
for each task in a single constructor we create a separate constructor for each task and make their chain which
makes the program more readable.
Dr Bharti Sharma
Constructor Chaining within the same class using this() keyword:
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Java
// Java program to illustrate Constructor Chaining
// within same class Using this() keyword
class Temp
// default constructor 1
// default constructor will call another constructor
// using this keyword from same class
Temp()
// calls constructor 2
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this(5);
System.out.println("The Default constructor");
// parameterized constructor 2
Temp(int x)
// calls constructor 3
this(5, 15);
System.out.println(x);
}
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// parameterized constructor 3
Temp(int x, int y)
System.out.println(x * y);
public static void main(String args[])
// invokes default constructor first
new Temp();
Output:
75
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5
The Default constructor
Rules of constructor chaining :
1. The this() expression should always be the first line of the constructor.
2. There should be at-least be one constructor without the this() keyword (constructor 3 in above
example).
3. Constructor chaining can be achieved in any order.
What happens if we change the order of constructors?
Nothing, Constructor chaining can be achieved in any order
Java
// Java program to illustrate Constructor Chaining
// within same class Using this() keyword
// and changing order of constructors
class Temp
{
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// default constructor 1
Temp()
System.out.println("default");
// parameterized constructor 2
Temp(int x)
// invokes default constructor
this();
System.out.println(x);
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// parameterized constructor 3
Temp(int x, int y)
// invokes parameterized constructor 2
this(5);
System.out.println(x * y);
public static void main(String args[])
{
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// invokes parameterized constructor 3
new Temp(8, 10);
Output:
default
5
80
NOTE: In example 1, default constructor is invoked at the end, but in example 2 default constructor is invoked
at first. Hence, order in constructor chaining is not important.
Constructor Chaining to other class using super() keyword :
Java
// Java program to illustrate Constructor Chaining to
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// other class using super() keyword
class Base
String name;
// constructor 1
Base()
this("");
System.out.println("No-argument constructor of" +
" base class");
}
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// constructor 2
Base(String name)
this.name = name;
System.out.println("Calling parameterized constructor"
+ " of base");
class Derived extends Base
{
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// constructor 3
Derived()
System.out.println("No-argument constructor " +
"of derived");
// parameterized constructor 4
Derived(String name)
// invokes base class constructor 2
super(name);
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System.out.println("Calling parameterized " +
"constructor of derived");
public static void main(String args[])
// calls parameterized constructor 4
Derived obj = new Derived("test");
// Calls No-argument constructor
// Derived obj = new Derived();
}
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Output:
Calling parameterized constructor of base
Calling parameterized constructor of derived
Note : Similar to constructor chaining in same class, super() should be the first line of the constructor as super
class’s constructor are invoked before the sub class’s constructor.
Alternative method : using Init block :
When we want certain common resources to be executed with every constructor we can put the code in the init
block. Init block is always executed before any constructor, whenever a constructor is used for creating a new
object.
Example 1:
Java
class Temp
// block to be executed before any constructor.
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System.out.println("init block");
// no-arg constructor
Temp()
System.out.println("default");
// constructor with one argument.
Temp(int x)
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System.out.println(x);
public static void main(String[] args)
// Object creation by calling no-argument
// constructor.
new Temp();
// Object creation by calling parameterized
// constructor with one parameter.
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new Temp(10);
Output:
init block
default
init block
10
NOTE: If there are more than one blocks, they are executed in the order in which they are defined within the
same class. See the ex.
Example :
Java
class Temp
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// block to be executed first
System.out.println("init");
Temp()
System.out.println("default");
Temp(int x)
System.out.println(x);
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// block to be executed after the first block
// which has been defined above.
System.out.println("second");
public static void main(String args[])
new Temp();
new Temp(10);
}
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Output :
init
second
default
init
second
10
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