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(C++) delete

delete is a keyword to release dynamically allocated memory (allocated by the keyword new).

Examples

• delete example 1: basic

Advice

• Avoid 'naked' new and delete [2,3]
• Use smart pointers to avoid forgetting to delete objects created using new [1,4]

Be aware that it is valid to delete a pointer-to-const.

References

1. Herb Sutter and Andrei Alexandrescu. C++ coding standards: 101 rules, guidelines, and best practices. ISBN: 0-32-111358-6. Chapter 13: 'Ensure resources are owned by objects. Use explicit RAII and smart pointers.'
2. Bjarne Stroustrup. The C++ Programming Language (4th edition). 2013. ISBN: 978-0-321-56384-2. Page 19, 1.3.2 'Advice', item 3: 'Avoid 'naked' new and delete'
3. Bjarne Stroustrup. The C++ Programming Language (4th edition). 2013. ISBN: 978-0-321-56384-2. Chapter 11.6. Advice. page 303: '[4] Avoid "naked new" and "naked delete"'
4. Bjarne Stroustrup. The C++ Programming Language (4th edition). 2013. ISBN: 978-0-321-56384-2. Chapter 21.4. Advice. page 640: '[1] Use unique_ptr or shared_ptr to avoid forgetting to delete objects created using new'

Go back to Richel Bilderbeek's C++ page.

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