<init>

The instance initialization method <init> also has to be present in every class file. This method has the descriptor ()V and is fully described in the methods[] table of the class file.

The entry in the methods[] table contains the following information:

• No access flags;
• The index of the CONSTANT_Utf8_info entry in the constant_pool[] containing the string `` <init>'', the name of the method;
• The index of the CONSTANT_Utf8_info entry in the constant_pool[] containing the string `` ()V'', the descriptor of the method;
• A Code attribute containing the following information:
  • Maximum number of words on the operand stack is 1;
  • Maximum number of locals is also 1, the reference to this class;
  • The following lines of code:

     
    		 aload_0     		 load the reference to this class on the
    		stack;
    
    		 invokespecial <index> 		 invoke 
    		 java.lang.Object.<init>()V;
    
    		 return.
    
    

What the <init> method of this class does is invoke the <init> method of its superclass, in this case java.lang.Object. The class java.lang.Object will be the superclass of all classes containing a compiled Pascal program.