What is the alternative to a non-static initialization block?

Question

My projects had some developer who loved a non-static initialization block.

What is the alternative to this and what is the downside of this alternative? I would guess: initialize the values in the constructor ?

Why should we use a non-initialization block? As far as I understood the "initialization block" is used to set values when instantiating the class. Is a constructor then not sufficient?

public class BlockTest {
    String test = new String();

    //Non-static initialization block
    {
        test = "testString";
    }
}

This block confuses me and lead to reduced readability. Thanks for your response!

Answer 1

First of all, it doesn't make sense to initialize test to a new String() there, since the initialization block immediately assigns it to something else. Anyways...

One alternative is initializing at the declaration:

public class BlockTest {
    String test = "testString";
}

Another is in the constructor:

public class BlockTest {
    String test;
    public BlockTest () {
        test = "testString";
    }
}

Those are the two main, common options.

There are two main uses for an initialization block. The first is for anonymous classes that have to perform some logic during initialization:

new BaseClass () {
    List<String> strings = new ArrayList<String>();
    {
        strings.add("first");
        strings.add("second");
    }
}

The second is for common initialization that must happen before every constructor:

public class MediocreExample {
    List<String> strings = new ArrayList<String>();
    {
        strings.add("first");
        strings.add("second");
    }
    public MediocreExample () {
        ...
    }
    public MediocreExample (int parameter) {
        ...
    }
}        

However, in both cases there are alternatives that do not use the initialization block:

new BaseClass () {
    List<String> strings = createInitialList();
    private List<String> createInitialList () {
        List<String> a = new ArrayList<String>();
        a.add("first");
        a.add("second");
        return a;
    }
}

And:

public class MediocreExample {
    List<String> strings;
    private void initialize () {
        strings = new List<String>();
        strings.add("first");
        strings.add("second");
    }
    public MediocreExample () {
        initialize();
        ...
    }
    public MediocreExample (int parameter) {
        initialize();
        ...
    }
}        

There are many ways to do these things, use the way that is most appropriate and provides the clearest and most easily maintainable code.