Why Should You Explicitly Call Delete in C Even Though the Program Will Terminate?

Why Explicitly Call Delete in C Despite Program Termination?

When working with heap memory in C , it's essential to explicitly call the delete operator to deallocate allocated memory. While operating systems generally deallocate memory when a program exits, relying solely on this behavior can lead to issues and is not considered good practice.

Destructor Execution

One key reason for explicitly calling delete is to ensure the execution of destructors associated with allocated objects. Destructors contain crucial cleanup code that may need to be executed, such as releasing resources or updating data structures. If the operating system deallocates the memory, the destructors will not be called, potentially leaving the program in an inconsistent state.

Memory Management and Leaks

Explicitly calling delete helps maintain proper memory management and prevents memory leaks. When memory is not properly deallocated using delete, the operating system may not reclaim it, resulting in memory leaks that can accumulate over time and negatively impact program performance. By calling delete, you explicitly release the allocated memory, ensuring its return to the system for reuse.

Code Refactoring

As you mentioned, refactoring code may relocate blocks where deallocation is necessary. Explicitly calling delete eliminates the risk of encountering unexpected behavior due to potential code changes. It ensures that allocated memory is always properly deallocated, regardless of where the code is placed.

Recommendation

In general, it's always advisable to explicitly call delete whenever heap memory is allocated using new. This practice guarantees the execution of destructors, prevents memory leaks, and facilitates code maintenance. However, it's worth noting that C destructors will automatically be called during program termination, but this does not absolve the developer from the responsibility of calling delete to ensure proper memory management.

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