C++ FAQs, Second Edition

Chapter 31. Using Objects to Prevent Memory Leaks

FAQ 31.01 When are memory leaks important?

When the application is important and its lifetime has some duration.

A memory leak occurs when a program allocates memory off the heap and does not return the memory when it is no longer needed. As a result, the system eventually runs out of heap memory and crashes or hangs up. In general, memory leaks cannot be tolerated, particularly for long-running applications. “Reboot every few hours” is not a practical solution to the problem, so it is important to understand how leaks occur and what can be done to prevent them. It is very, very difficult to cure these problems after the fact, but a modicum of solid engineering applied in the early stages of ...