Скачать или смотреть Dynamically Create an Array of Pointers to Objects in C++

Summary: Explore how to dynamically allocate an array of pointers to objects in C++, a powerful technique for advanced users working with dynamic memory management.
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When working with C++, understanding how to dynamically create an array of pointers to objects is essential. This can be particularly useful when you need a collection of objects, but you don't want to continuously resize an array or use a standard template library (STL) container.

What is an Array of Pointers?

In C++, an array of pointers is essentially a collection where each element holds the address of a separate object or a variable. It allows for the indirect manipulation of objects and is especially handy when dealing with polymorphism, as you can point to objects of different derived classes using a common base class pointer.

Dynamic Creation in C++

To dynamically create an array of pointers, you need to use dynamic memory allocation. This typically involves using the new keyword to allocate memory on the heap for the pointers and possibly, the objects themselves.

Here’s a step-by-step guide to achieve this:

Step 1: Define the Class

Firstly, define the class of the objects you will create pointers for.

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Step 2: Allocate an Array of Pointers

Next, allocate an array of pointers to MyObject.

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Here, MyObject** denotes a pointer to a pointer of MyObject, essentially creating an array of MyObject*.

Step 3: Create Objects and Assign Addresses

For each element in the pointer array, you can create a MyObject and assign its address to the array element.

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This loop initializes each pointer in the array with a new MyObject instance.

Step 4: Use the Objects

You can now use the array to operate on the objects.

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This will call the display method on each MyObject.

Step 5: Clean Up

Finally, remember to deallocate the memory to prevent memory leaks.

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Benefits

Using an array of pointers gives you the flexibility to manage memory manually, which can be useful in resource-constrained environments or when you need control over object lifetimes. However, remember that managing memory manually also requires meticulous attention to proper deallocation to prevent leaks and other memory-related issues.

Conclusion

Dynamically creating an array of pointers to objects is a powerful feature of C++, allowing for flexible and efficient memory management. While more complex than using STL containers, it provides the ability to control object storage and lifetimes directly, a critical skill for advanced C++ programmers.

Embrace this technique when you need dynamic, flexible data structures and gain insights into the nuanced world of manual memory management in C++.