What are segmentation faults in C++?

What are segmentation faults in C++?

Segmentation faults occur when a program tries to access a memory segment that it's not allowed to. This often happens due to dereferencing a null or uninitialized pointer.

Can you give me an example of how a segmentation fault might occur?

Sure! For instance, if you have a pointer that hasn't been initialized and you try to access the memory it points to, like this:

int* ptr;
int value = *ptr; // This will cause a segmentation fault

How can I debug a segmentation fault?

You can use tools like gdb (GNU Debugger) to trace where the fault occurs. Running your program in gdb and using the 'backtrace' command can help identify the source of the fault.

Are there any common mistakes that lead to segmentation faults?

Yes, common mistakes include dereferencing null pointers, accessing out-of-bounds array elements, and using pointers after freeing them.