What are some common examples of memory leaks in C++?

What are some common examples of memory leaks in C++?

Memory leaks in C++ often occur when dynamically allocated memory is not properly deallocated. For example, if you allocate memory using new but forget to call delete, that memory remains allocated even after it's no longer needed.

Can you give me a specific code example?

Sure! Here's a simple example:

#include <iostream>

void createMemoryLeak() {
    int* leak = new int[10]; // Memory allocated
    // No delete[] leak; here, causing a memory leak
}

int main() {
    createMemoryLeak();
    return 0;
}

In this code, the memory allocated for leak is never released.

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. Over time, this can significantly degrade performance.

How can I prevent memory leaks in my code?

To prevent memory leaks, always ensure that every new has a corresponding delete, and consider using smart pointers like std::unique_ptr or std::shared_ptr that automatically manage memory.