Hi Lyle, >Is there any _real_ difference between these two ways of initializing? Yes. The real difference is that the initializer list occurs whether or not it is explicitly specified. Putting the initialization code in the constructor's body MAY incur a performance penalty. That's a MAY, not a FOR SURE ... the only way to know for certain is by profiling the optimized release executable. In some situations, it is necessary to put more complex resource acquisition code in the constructor's body. But, generally speaking, initialization lists are preferable over initialization via the constructor's body. The sample code you presented is amenable to the preferred initialization list solution. HTH, --Eljay
