What are the best practices for C++ destructors?

What are the best practices for C++ destructors?

When designing C++ destructors, it's important to ensure proper resource management. Here are some best practices:

1. Always declare a destructor as virtual in base classes.
2. Avoid using destructors for complex logic; keep them simple.
3. Use smart pointers to manage dynamic memory automatically.
4. Ensure that destructors are exception-safe.

Why should destructors be virtual in base classes?

Declaring destructors as virtual in base classes ensures that the correct destructor is called for derived classes when an object is deleted through a base class pointer. This prevents resource leaks and undefined behavior.

Can you give an example of a destructor in a class?

Sure! Here's a simple example:

class MyClass {
public:
    MyClass() { /* constructor logic */ }
    ~MyClass() { /* cleanup logic */ }
};
``` This destructor will be called automatically when an object of MyClass goes out of scope.

What happens if I forget to define a destructor?

If you forget to define a destructor, the compiler provides a default destructor. However, if your class manages resources like dynamic memory, failing to define a destructor can lead to memory leaks.