Unable to identify a particular reference in a Java program

Question

public CompactSuffixTree(SimpleSuffixTree simpleSuffixTree) 
{  
    super(simpleSuffixTree.text);
    super.root = compactNodes(simpleSuffixTree.root, 0);
}

The above code is a part of a java implementation of the suffix tree.

Here the CompactSuffixTree extends AbstractSuffixTree class which has an attribute "text".

The simpleSuffixTree class also extends the AbstractSuffixTree class.

"root" is an attribute in the AbstractSuffixTree class of type Node class.

Can anyone please explain what does the code "super(simpleSuffixTree.text);" mean in such a context?

NOTE: the attribute "text" is not present in the simpleSuffixTree class, which is my main point of confusion.strong text

Answer 1

super(simpleSuffixTree.text); is a call to the constructor of the super-class AbstractSuffixTree . simpleSuffixTree.text is passed to the super-class's constructor, and it's probably used to initialize the "text" property of AbstractSuffixTree .

Answer 2

It means that the parent constructor is being called. In this case, it'll result in a call to the AbstractSuffixTree( String text ) function.

Answer 3

Subclass Constructors - super keyword to invoke a superclass's constructor, Here is the CompactSuffixTree (subclass) constructor that calls the superclass AbstractSuffixTree constructor and then initialize root attribute in AbstractSuffixTree class.

this Keyword - You can refer to any member of the current object from within an instance method or a constructor by using this. or you can refer super class public or protected members using this keyword, I will recommend you use this keyword instead of super.root .