Every day spent coding is different thanks to the NULL pointer. There are three types of memory usage when using C++. They are static, stack and heap. Static Static memory is the ones allocated to the program when it start to store the code and the global structures that it use. Stack Used to store function return addresses, functions arguments and variables declared local in a functions. The stack has a limited size and if the big local variables are created or to much recursion there will be a stack overflow.
Heap In C++ the memory from the heap is allocated with new and when it is not needed anymore it is removed with delete. new / delete Overloading New / Delete It is possible to overload new and delete so custom actions is taken when you try to get memory for something. malloc / free calloc / realloc Heap Memory Management Memory Manager Memory Pool With a memory pool you keep a a maximum number of objects you need allocated all the time. Ex if you make a space shooter you have 100 laser bolt objects allocated in a array. When you need one you can simple get a pointer to one not in use and when the bolt is destroyed you can flag it as not in use and let it be. That way one does not have to new and delete the memory for them, something that can get expansive when the player spray the world with his laser gatling gun. Memory Alignment Reference
Memory Allocators: Table of Contents - 2016 |