Multi Level Default Constructors

CODE

class MultiLevelDefaultConstructors
{
    public static void main(String arg[])
    {
        System.out.println("---------------");
        A a = new A();
        System.out.println("---------------");
        B b = new B();
        System.out.println("---------------");
        C c = new C();
        System.out.println("---------------");
    
    }
}

class A
{
    A()    // LINE A
    {
        System.out.println("Created A");
    }
}

class B extends A
{
    B()
    {
        System.out.println("Created B");
    }
}

class C extends B
{
    C()
    {
        System.out.println("Created C");
    }
}

OUTPUT

---------------
Created A
---------------
Created A
Created B
---------------
Created A
Created B
Created C
---------------

DESCRIPTION

Here we have a created a hierarchy of classes, C extending B, which in turn extending from A. We only defined the default constructors and included the print statements. As we can observe when a sub-class object is created, the super-class object is by default created. So when object of class B is created both Created A and Created B are printed. Similarly when the object of class C is created Created A, Created B and Created C are printed.

THINGS TO TRY

Create a class D which extends from C, and define the default constructor with a print statement.

Remove the default constructor in class A at LINE A, and add another constructor which takes one int parameter. Observe the compilation error you get. Please note that we need to change the sub-class constructors, to pass the parameter to the newly created super-class constructor, otherwise it throws the compilation errors.

Try it Online

Multi Level Default Constructors - Java Example Program