Correct place to initialize class variables?

Question

Where is the correct place to initialize a class data member? I have the class declaration in a header file like this:

Foo.h:

class Foo {
private:
    in         


        

Answer 1

To extend on Jared's answer, if you want to initialize it the way it is now, you need to put it in the Constructor.

class Foo
{
public:
    Foo(void) :
    myInt(1) // directly construct myInt with 1.
    {
    }

    // works but not preferred:
    /*
    Foo(void)
    {
        myInt = 1; // not preferred because myInt is default constructed then assigned
                   // but with POD types this makes little difference. for consistency
                   // however, it's best to put it in the initializer list, as above
                   // Edit, from comment: Also, for const variables and references,
                   // they must be directly constructed with a valid value, so they
                   // must be put in the initializer list.
    }
    */

private:
    int myInt;
};