How does memory management work in C++ linked lists?

How does memory management work in C++ linked lists?

In C++, linked lists use dynamic memory allocation to manage nodes. Each node is created using 'new' and must be deleted to prevent memory leaks.

What happens if I forget to delete a node?

Forgetting to delete a node leads to memory leaks, which can exhaust memory over time, causing your program to slow down or crash.

Can you show me an example of creating and deleting nodes?

Sure! Here's a simple example:

struct Node {
    int data;
    Node* next;
};

Node* head = new Node(); // Create a new node
head->data = 1;
head->next = nullptr;

// Deleting the node
delete head;

Are there any smart pointers I can use for linked lists?

Yes! You can use std::shared_ptr or std::unique_ptr from the C++ Standard Library to manage memory automatically and avoid leaks.