Class Constructors
The new function is called as class constructor.
On calling the new method it allocates the memory and returns the address to the class handle.
- The new operation is defined as a function with no return type
- every class has a built-in new method, calling the constructor of class without the explicit definition of the new method will invoke the default built-in new method
- specifying return type to the constructor shall give a compilation error (even specifying void shall give a compilation error)
- The constructor can be used for initializing the class properties. In case of any initialization required, those can be placed in the constructor and It is also possible to pass arguments to the constructor, which allows run-time customization of an object.
Class Constructor example
class packet;
//class properties
bit [31:0] addr;
bit [31:0] data;
bit write;
string pkt_type;
//constructor
function new();
addr = 32'h10;
data = 32'hFF;
write = 1;
pkt_type = "GOOD_PKT";
endfunction
//method to display class prperties
function void display();
$display("---------------------------------------------------------");
$display("\t addr = %0d",addr);
$display("\t data = %0h",data);
$display("\t write = %0d",write);
$display("\t pkt_type = %0s",pkt_type);
$display("---------------------------------------------------------");
endfunction
endclass
module sv_constructor;
packet pkt;
initial begin
pkt = new();
pkt.display();
end
endmodule
Simulator Output
addr = 16 data = ff write = 1 pkt_type = GOOD_PKT
