delete[] an array of objects

c++ arrays new-operator delete-operator
osgx picture osgx · Mar 21, 2010 · Viewed 95.6k times · Source

I have allocated and array of Objects

Objects *array = new Objects[N];

How should I delete this array? Just 

delete[] array;

or with iterating over the array's elements?

for(int i=0;i<N;i++)
    delete array[i];
delete[];

Thanks

UPDATE:

I changed loop body as 

delete &array[i];

to force the code to compile.

Answer

jamesdlin picture jamesdlin · Mar 21, 2010

Every use of new should be balanced by a delete, and every use of new[] should be balanced by delete[].

for(int i=0;i<N;i++)
    delete array[i];
delete[] array;

That would be appropriate only if you initialized the array as:

Objects **array = new Objects*[N];
for (int i = 0; i < N; i++) { 
    array[i] = new Object;
}

The fact that your original code gave you a compilation error is a strong hint that you're doing something wrong.

BTW, obligatory: avoid allocating arrays with new[]; use std::vector instead, and then its destructor will take care of cleanup for you. Additionally it will be exception-safe by not leaking memory if exceptions are thrown.

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