What is the difference between a destructor and a virtual destructor in C++?

What is the difference between a destructor and a virtual destructor in C++?

In C++, a destructor is a special member function that is called when an object goes out of scope or is deleted. A virtual destructor, on the other hand, ensures that the destructor of the derived class is called when an object is deleted through a base class pointer.

Why would I need a virtual destructor?

You need a virtual destructor when you have a base class pointer pointing to a derived class object. This ensures proper cleanup of resources allocated in the derived class.

Can you give an example of when not using a virtual destructor could cause issues?

Sure! If you delete a derived class object through a base class pointer without a virtual destructor, the derived class's destructor won't be called, leading to resource leaks.

What happens if I forget to declare a destructor in my class?

If you don't declare a destructor, C++ provides a default destructor that does nothing. However, if your class allocates resources, you should define a destructor to release them properly.