C++ Error: type name is not allowed array

Question

class Zombie { public: Zombie(); Zombie(int howTall); Zombie(int howTall, int howHeavy); int getHeight(); private: int height; int weight; }; Zombie::Zombie() { height = 6; weight = 180; } int main() { Zombie army[4]; for(int i = 0; i < 4; i++) army[i] = Zombie; }

Why do I get the error when I try to set army[i] = Zombie? Army is an array of Zombies and I already wrote a default constructor for the Zombie class. when I replace Zombie with Zombie(), the code works, but shouldn't omitting the () call the default constructor as well?

Not shown: the other constructors and methods are implemented already.

I know that if I declare army to be an array of pointers to Zombies and do army[i] = new Zombie it will work, but I don't know why the above code doesn't.

Thanks

user703016 · Accepted Answer · 2013-12-07 07:48:15Z

When you do:

Zombie army[4];

You are already constructing 4 Zombies of height 6 and weight 180. The default constructor is being called 4 times (try to add a call to std::cout in it and you'll see!).

Therefore what you are attempting to do in your loop is not needed, unless you want (for whatever reason), to construct new zombies again. In which case, the proper syntax would be:

army[i] = Zombie();

Ah, random downvotes with no explanation, you make my day. throws a rock at some innocent bypasser for no reason

Vinzenz · Accepted Answer · 2013-12-07 07:19:03Z

Because you're trying to assign a type and not an object of that type.

Besides that you have already the objects in army, you would only need to assign a new object now, when you want to overwrite the values with 'new Zombies'

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