title: What is the member variables list after the colon in a constructor good for?
body: <p>I'm reading this C++ open source code and I came to a constructor but I don't get it ( basically because I don't know C++ :P ) </p>
  
  <p>I understand C and Java very well.</p>
  
  <pre><code> TransparentObject::TransparentObject( int w, int x, int y, int z ) : 
       _someMethod( 0 ),
       _someOtherMethod( 0 ),
       _someOtherOtherMethod( 0 ),
       _someMethodX( 0 ) 
    {
         int bla;
         int bla;
    }
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>As far I can "deduce" The first line only declares the construtor name, the "::" sounds like "belongs to"  to me.  And the code between {} is the constructor body it self. </p>
  
  <p>I "think" what's after the paremeters and the first "{" are like methods default parameters or something, but I don't find a reasonable explanation on the web. Most of the  C++ constructors that I found in the examples are almost identical to those in Java.</p>
  
  <p>I'm I right in my assumptions? "::" is like belongs to, and the list after params and body are like "default args" or something?</p>
  
  <p><strong>UPDATE:</strong>
  Thanks for the answers.
  May those be called methods? ( I guess no ) and what is the difference of call them within  the constructor body</p>