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I saw the following code in Bjarne Stroustrup's 3rd edition of the book
The C++ Programming Language(NOT the special 3rd edition) - Pages228
and 229, related to static members.

I am giving the code only partly:

class Date {

int d, m, y;
static Date default_date;

public:
Date(int dd=0, int mm=0, int yy=0);
....
};

Date:ate(int dd, int mm, int yy)
{
....
}

Date Date::default_date(16, 12, 1770);
--------------------------------------------------------------

MY DOUBTS:
Here, does default_date(16, 12, 1770) call the constructor
Date:ate(int dd, int mm, int yy) ?

Is contructor called for static memebrs ?

subramanian wrote:
> I saw the following code in Bjarne Stroustrup's 3rd edition of the book
> The C++ Programming Language(NOT the special 3rd edition) - Pages228
> and 229, related to static members.
>
> I am giving the code only partly:
>
> class Date {
>
> int d, m, y;
> static Date default_date;
>
> public:
> Date(int dd=0, int mm=0, int yy=0);
> ...
> };
>
> Date:ate(int dd, int mm, int yy)
: d(dd), m(mm), y(yy) // missing init list
> {
> ...
> }
>
> Date Date::default_date(16, 12, 1770);
> --------------------------------------------------------------
>
> MY DOUBTS:
> Here, does default_date(16, 12, 1770) call the constructor
> Date:ate(int dd, int mm, int yy) ?
>
> Is contructor called for static memebrs ?

Yes, it invokes the ctor.
The static member's ctor can only be invoked that way.
The init list is crucial.
replace with the following and observe...
#include <iostream>
....
Date:ate(int dd, int mm, int yy)
: d(dd), m(mm), y(yy) // missing init list
{
std::cout << "Date(int, int, int)\n";
}
You should declare a default date in main to see how that static member
is used to default initialize an instance of the class - however, you
did not show that part of the code.