What are the performance differences between storage options in C++11?

What are the performance differences between storage options in C++11?

In C++11, the main storage options include stack, heap, and static storage. Stack is fast but limited in size, heap offers flexibility but is slower due to dynamic allocation, and static storage is fixed but persists for the program's lifetime.

Can you explain when to use each storage option?

Sure! Use stack storage for small, temporary variables that don't need to persist beyond their scope. Heap storage is ideal for large data structures or when the size is not known at compile time. Static storage is best for global variables or when you need data to persist across function calls.

What about performance implications of using smart pointers?

Smart pointers, like std::unique_ptr and std::shared_ptr, manage memory automatically, reducing leaks. However, they introduce some overhead due to reference counting in shared_ptr, which can impact performance in high-frequency allocations.

Are there any benchmarks comparing these options?

Yes, benchmarks typically show that stack allocation is the fastest, followed by static, with heap allocation being the slowest due to the overhead of dynamic memory management.