Glossary: Stack
OO codes are dynamic with
objects
being created and destroyed as required by the task in hand. Objects
require memory to hold their
data members.
For objects created dynamically there are two sources:-
- The stack - for short-lived objects
- The heap - for permanent objects.
Objects, and other variables, that are declared within any
compound statement
are created on the stack. When execution leaves the compound statement, the
object's
destructor
is called and the stack memory space reclaimed. So stack-based objects are
useful for short term work, but if an object has to exist beyond the end of
statement, then they must be created on the heap using the new operator.
See OO Concepts:Constructors & Destructors
See First Steps Lesson: Stack & Heap Objects
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Nick West