Using Objects with Pointers

Dynamic memory management in C++ refers to the process of allocating and deallocating memory manually during a program’s runtime, rather than relying solely on the stack or predefined memory sizes. It gives programmers more control over how memory is used, which is especially useful when the size or number of data elements isn’t known in advance.

heap: ​an untidy pile of something

Memory leakage in C++ happens when a program allocates memory on the heap using new (or similar functions) but fails to release it using delete. This leftover memory remains occupied even though it's no longer needed, leading to inefficient memory use and potentially crashing long-running applications.

In C++, type aliases let you create alternative names for existing types, making your code cleaner and often easier to understand --- especially when dealing with complex types.

using (Modern C++11 and beyond)

The generic programming paradigm is all about writing code that's flexible, reusable, and type-independent. In C++, this is primarily achieved through templates, which let you write functions and classes that work with any data type.

In the video "Using objects with pointers," the instructor explains:

Scope Resolution Operator (::): This operator is used to access a static member function of a class without needing an object of that class. For example, Clock::now() calls the static member function now from the Clock class. This is necessary because static member functions belong to the class itself rather than any particular object.

Static Member Function: A static member function can be called on the class itself, not on an instance of the class. It doesn't require an object to be created. In the video, Clock::now() is a static member function that returns the current time, and it is accessed using the scope resolution operator.

std::flush is an output stream manipulator in C++ that forces the immediate writing of any buffered output to its destination --- like the console or a file

Pointers in C++ are used for several important reasons, even if the code can run without them:

Dynamic Memory Management: Pointers allow you to allocate memory dynamically during runtime, which is crucial for creating flexible and efficient programs. This is particularly useful for managing resources in applications that require variable amounts of memory.

Performance Optimization: Using pointers can optimize performance by directly accessing and manipulating memory addresses, which can be faster than using standard variables.

Complex Data Structures: Pointers are essential for implementing complex data structures like linked lists, trees, and graphs, which rely on dynamic memory allocation and efficient memory management.

This is especially important in real-world applications where memory needs can change during execution.

Dynamic allocation in C++ refers to the process of reserving memory during a program’s runtime rather than at compile time. This is especially useful when you don’t know in advance how much memory you’ll need --- for example, when handling user input, variable-sized data structures, or real-time data.

A sanity check in programming --- especially in C++—is a quick, simple test to verify that something behaves as expected before diving into more complex logic or debugging. Think of it as asking, “Am I not missing something obvious?”

The angle brackets here are used to specify template arguments. 

In C++, member access operators are used to access members (like variables or functions) of a class, struct, or union. (dot operator/arrow operator)

Dot operator is used when you have an actual object (not a pointer).

Arrow operator is used when you have a pointer to an object. 

The indirection operator in C++ is the asterisk symbol *, and it's used to dereference a pointer—that is, to access the value stored at the memory address the pointer is pointing to.

Mainly by Microsoft Copilot