Why a final instance variable needs to be initialized ?

1. Why a final instance variable needs to be initialized if we dont even use it in our code? why dont compiler provides a default value to it?
2. Why the following code prints 10 ?


because afaik constructor is the first thing that gets executed in a class before the initialization of instance variables.

A final instance variable is meant to hold a constant value (value cannot be changed). Now if the compiler assigns a default value then how can it be changed to hold something meaningful?

Cheers,
Raj.

goel Ashish wrote:
because afaik constructor is the first thing that gets executed in a class before the initialization of instance variables.

The order of execution is
1.the constructor of the superclass (in this case is is Object() and it does nothing)
2.initialization of instance variables
3.the code in the constructor

Federico Cardelle wrote:
The order of execution is
1.the constructor of the superclass (in this case is is Object() and it does nothing)
2.initialization of instance variables
3.the code in the constructor

If it is like that then what happens when we dont initialize a final variable during declaration and initialize it inside a constructor??

That's OK, because it will then always have a value after the object is constructed. Just make sure you don't use it inside the constructor before it's initialized.

goel Ashish wrote: . . . If it is like that then what happens when we dont initialize a final variable during declaration and initialize it inside a constructor??

The final variable is initialised by the constructor. In my opinion, that is the correct way to do it. A final field must be initialised before the constructor completes.

goel Ashish wrote:

Federico Cardelle wrote:
The order of execution is
1.the constructor of the superclass (in this case is is Object() and it does nothing)
2.initialization of instance variables
3.the code in the constructor

If it is like that then what happens when we dont initialize a final variable during declaration and initialize it inside a constructor??

I think that I remember that final fields are not initialized to its default value, if they aren't assigned a explicit initialization value when they are declared (while non final fields are). But I can't find where I read it.
This way they are "blank finals" until they are initialized in the constructor.

@ all Thnks for your help.

You're welcome