What are some examples of memory leaks in programming?

What are some examples of memory leaks in programming?

Memory leaks occur when a program allocates memory but fails to release it. For example, in C++, if you use 'new' to allocate memory but forget to use 'delete', that memory remains allocated even after it's no longer needed.

Can you give me another example?

Sure! In Java, if you create a static collection and keep adding objects to it without removing them, the collection will grow indefinitely, leading to a memory leak.

What are the consequences of memory leaks?

Consequences include increased memory usage, reduced performance, and eventually, application crashes due to exhaustion of available memory.

How can I prevent memory leaks?

You can prevent memory leaks by using smart pointers in C++, managing object lifetimes carefully, and regularly profiling your application to identify memory usage patterns.