How do I implement reference counting in my program?

How do I implement reference counting in my program?

Reference counting is a memory management technique where each object keeps track of the number of references to it. When the count reaches zero, the object can be safely deallocated.

Can you give me a simple code example?

Sure! Here's a basic example in Python:

class RefCountedObject:
    def __init__(self):
        self.ref_count = 0

    def add_ref(self):
        self.ref_count += 1

    def release(self):
        self.ref_count -= 1
        if self.ref_count == 0:
            self.cleanup()

    def cleanup(self):
        print("Object is being cleaned up")

What are the advantages of using reference counting?

The main advantages are that it can help prevent memory leaks and allows for immediate deallocation of objects when they are no longer needed.

Are there any downsides to using reference counting?

Yes, reference counting can lead to circular references, which can prevent objects from being deallocated. It's also not thread-safe without additional mechanisms.