Why can my instance initializer block reference a field before it is declared?

Question

My understanding is that you cannot reference a variable before it has been declared, and that all code (including instance initializers) that is within the body of a class,

Answer 1

The contents of initializer block are executed whenever any constructor is invoked (before the constructor’s contents).

So you can provide reference to any variables as they will not be used unless a constructor is invoked aka. object is created.