devxlogo

Iostream Objects’ Memory Use

Iostream Objects’ Memory Use

Question:
I have written this very small program in Microsoft Visual C++ and it seems that STL is dumping memory:

 #include #include using namespace std ;void main(){  _CrtDumpMemoryLeaks( );}

The output is a memory dump of 33 bytes and 40 bytes. How can this be?

Answer:
_CrtDumpMemoryLeaks( ) lies. The iostream objects are constructed before main() starts and they are destructed after main() exits. Therefore, _CrtDumpMemoryLeaks() thinks that there’s a memory leak, because the memory isn’t released when by the time main() exits. Instead, it is released afterwards, during the destruction of the iostream objects.

devxblackblue

About Our Editorial Process

At DevX, we’re dedicated to tech entrepreneurship. Our team closely follows industry shifts, new products, AI breakthroughs, technology trends, and funding announcements. Articles undergo thorough editing to ensure accuracy and clarity, reflecting DevX’s style and supporting entrepreneurs in the tech sphere.

See our full editorial policy.

About Our Journalist