What are some examples of null pointer exceptions in C++?

What are some examples of null pointer exceptions in C++?

Null pointer exceptions occur when you try to access or modify an object through a null pointer. For example, if you have a pointer that hasn't been initialized and you try to dereference it, you'll get a null pointer exception.

Can you show me a code snippet that causes a null pointer exception?

Sure! Here's a simple example:

#include <iostream>

int main() {
    int* ptr = nullptr; // Initialize pointer to null
    std::cout << *ptr; // Dereferencing null pointer
    return 0;
}

This code will cause a runtime error because it tries to dereference a null pointer.

How can I avoid null pointer exceptions in my code?

To avoid null pointer exceptions, always initialize your pointers before use, check for null before dereferencing, and consider using smart pointers like std::unique_ptr or std::shared_ptr.