THINK++ — Engineering Visualized

The Heap

Dynamic Memory Allocation

Allows you to request memory during RUNTIME from the system heap. This is essential when you don't know the size of data beforehand.

new OPERATOR

int* ptr = new int(10);

Allocates memory on the heap and returns its address.

delete OPERATOR

delete ptr;

Frees the allocated memory back to the system. CRITICAL to avoid leaks.

Dynamic Arrays

int n;
cin >> n;
int* arr = new int[n]; // Array of size n

// Freeing dynamic array:
delete[] arr;

MEMORY LEAK

If you lose the pointer to heap memory before calling delete, that memory stays "taken" until the program exits. This is a memory leak.

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