C++ - What is a memory leak? How can we avoid it?

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What is a memory leak? How can we avoid it?

Total Answers and Comments: 4

Last Update: July 25, 2006 Asked by: hariprasadt

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July 10, 2006 21:48:22

Sabith

RE: What is a memory leak? How can we avoid it?

In computer science a memory leak is a particular kind of unintentional memory consumption by a computer program where the program fails to release memory when no longer needed. The term is meant as a humorous misnomer since memory is not physically lost from the computer but rather becomes claimed but ignored due to program logic flaws. When we are allocating memory using new or malloc and then failing to deallocate the memory after its use within the application's life span then the memory allocated earlier will become unusable for the application there by making it a leak in the memory.

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July 10, 2006 21:53:03

Sabith

RE: What is a memory leak? How can we avoid it?

A memory leak can be avoided by making sure that whatever memory has been dynamically allocated will be cleared after the use of the same. for example

int main()

{ char *myCharData[20];

for (int nLoop 0;nLoop < 20; ++nLoop) { myCharData[nLoop ] new char[256];

strcpy(myCharData[nLoop] SABITH );

.......

}

.........................

/*Some manipulations here using myCharData*/

/*Now here we have to clear the data. The place can vary according to ur program. This being a simple program u can clear at the end*/

for(int nLoop 0;nLoop < 20; ++nLoop)
{

delete[] myCharData[nLoop ];

}

return 0;

}

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July 17, 2006 12:22:07

RE: What is a memory leak? How can we avoid it?

When dynamic memory allocation is used extensively memory leak may occur.It happens when first memory block is not deleted . However the address is lost because the pointer contains the address of second block.The memory leak is unintentional occupied memory. It can de avoided by using delete statement.

example:

float *ptr new float

*ptr 6.0;//Access first block

'Use delete statement -- delete ptr ;Otherwise it will cause memory leak

ptr new float

*ptr 7.0//Acess second block

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July 25, 2006 03:11:10

DaisyWheel

RE: What is a memory leak? How can we avoid it?

To avoid memmory leaks you should use smart pointers.

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