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Copy Constructor vs Assignment Operator in C++

Copy constructor and Assignment operator are similar as they are both used to initialize one object using another object. But, there are some basic differences between them:

Copy constructor  Assignment operator 
It is called when a new object is created from an existing object, as a copy of the existing object This operator is called when an already initialized object is assigned a new value from another existing object. 
It creates a separate memory block for the new object. It does not create a separate memory block or new memory space.
It is an overloaded constructor. It is a bitwise operator. 
C++ compiler implicitly provides a copy constructor, if no copy constructor is defined in the class. A bitwise copy gets created, if the Assignment operator is not overloaded. 

Syntax:

className(const className &obj) {

// body 

}

Syntax: 

className obj1, obj2;

obj2 = obj1;

Consider the following C++ program. 




// CPP Program to demonstrate the use of copy constructor
// and assignment operator
#include <iostream>
#include <stdio.h>
using namespace std;
 
class Test {
public:
    Test() {}
    Test(const Test& t)
    {
        cout << "Copy constructor called " << endl;
    }
 
    Test& operator=(const Test& t)
    {
        cout << "Assignment operator called " << endl;
        return *this;
    }
};
 
// Driver code
int main()
{
    Test t1, t2;
    t2 = t1;
    Test t3 = t1;
    getchar();
    return 0;
}

Output
Assignment operator called 
Copy constructor called 

Explanation: Here, t2 = t1;  calls the assignment operator, same as t2.operator=(t1); and  Test t3 = t1;  calls the copy constructor, same as Test t3(t1);

Must Read: When is a Copy Constructor Called in C++?

Article Tags :
C++