What are common memory leaks in C++?

What are common memory leaks in C++?

Common memory leaks in C++ occur when dynamically allocated memory is not properly deallocated. This can happen if you forget to call delete on pointers or if you lose the reference to allocated memory.

Can you give me some examples of how this happens?

Sure! One common example is allocating memory with new but not using delete. For instance:

int* ptr = new int[10]; // Memory allocated
// Forgetting to delete ptr later

What are the consequences of memory leaks?

Memory leaks can lead to increased memory usage, which may slow down your application or even cause it to crash if the system runs out of memory.

How can I prevent memory leaks in my code?

To prevent memory leaks, always ensure that every new has a corresponding delete, use smart pointers like std::unique_ptr or std::shared_ptr, and regularly use tools like Valgrind to check for leaks.