Final answer:
A constructor is a method used to initialize the state of newly created objects in object-oriented programming. It does not return a value and is called when a new instance of a class is created, setting up initial values for the object's attributes.
Step-by-step explanation:
A constructor is a special type of method in object-oriented programming languages. The primary purpose of a constructor is to initialize the state of newly created objects. It gets called at the time an object is instantiated, and it can set initial values for the object's attributes based on parameters passed to the constructor, or it can provide default values if no parameters are given.
Considering the options provided:
- A method that returns a value.
- A method used to initialize the state of newly created objects.
- A method used to access private variables.
- A method used to access protected variables.
The correct answer is b. A method used to initialize the state of newly created objects.
Constructors do not return values; unlike regular methods, they are not called explicitly but rather invoked when new instances of a class are created. They can also be overloaded, allowing different ways of initializing an object depending on the information available at the time of creation.