Constructor functions

A constructor function is a special type of method belonging to a class that you use to initialize the class. The constructor function is called whenever you create an instance of the class using the new operator, as discussed in Explicitly and implicitly importing classes.

The constructor function always has the same name as the class itself. You can also pass parameters to the constructor.

class className {
	function className (arg1, arg2, ..., argn) {
		//initialize class here
	}
}

For example, the following code is a constructor function for the Plant class:

	// Constructor
	function Plant (leafType:String, bloomSeason:String) {
		setLeafType(leafType);
		setBloomSeason(bloomSeason);
	}

The Plant constructor function takes two parameters of type String: leafType and bloomSeason. You pass values for these parameters when you create an instance using the new operator. The following code creates an instance of the Plant class named forsythia, whose leafType and bloomSeason parameters are set to Deciduous and Spring, respectively:

var forsythia:Plant = new Plant("Deciduous", "Spring");