Java Constructors

Question

I am trying to learn how to specify class constructors in Java. I am starting to understand that they specify the types of instance variables of objects made from that class. They also can be used to set the instance variable initial values. The follow example is from the Java tutorial on Sun's website:

public Bicycle(int startCadence, int startSpeed, int startGear) {
    gear = startGear;
    cadence = startCadence;
    speed = startSpeed;
}

Where in your classes source code should you put the constructor(s)?

Are these arguments the names of the variables?: (int startCadence, int startSpeed, int startGear) or are gear, cadence and speed the names of the variables?

What is the difference between (int startCadence, int startSpeed, int startGear) and gear, cadence and speed?

In the unlikely event that my instructor or any administrator from Salt Lake Community College ever comes across this question, let me make my intentions clear. This question is posted in the greatest spirit of academic honesty. I ask this question to seek general advice and help in understanding the proper way to use the Java programming language. I in no way use the work of others and represent it as my own work. I use the answers provided here as a general aid in my understanding. I do all my own work and do not copy work provided by people answering my question.

Answer 1

The constructors can appear anywhere in the code for the class. However, by convention, most people put them before any other functions that aren't constructors.

As for the variable names, all 6 are actually variable names, but the scope is differnet. The ones specified as parameters to the constructor (startCadence, startSpeed, startGear) are only available within the constructor. The other 3 (gear, cadence, speed) are probably class-wide variables, available to all methods. However the definition isn't shown in your code snippet. The full class would look mroe like:

class Bicycle
{
    // class-level variables
    private int gear;
    private int cadence;
    private int speed;

    // constructor
    public Bicycle(int startCadence, int startSpeed, int startGear) {
        gear = startGear;
        cadence = startCadence;
        speed = startSpeed;
    }

    // another method (not a constructor)
    public void ShiftUp() {
        gear = gear + 1; // notice the 'gear' variable is available here too.
    }
}

Hope that helps!