How do I inspect memory and registers in debuggers in C++?

Inspecting memory and registers is a crucial part of debugging in C++. It allows developers to understand the state of the application and to track down difficult-to-find bugs. This can be done using several debugging tools, depending on the environment you are in (like Visual Studio, GDB, etc.). Below is a basic guide on how to inspect memory and registers using a common debugger.

// Example using GDB to inspect memory and registers

// Step 1: Compile your C++ program with debug symbols
// g++ -g your_program.cpp -o your_program

// Step 2: Start GDB with your executable
// gdb ./your_program

// Step 3: Set a breakpoint at the desired location
(gdb) break main

// Step 4: Run the program
(gdb) run

// Step 5: Inspect memory
(gdb) x/20x &variable_name  // Inspect 20 hexadecimal values starting at the memory address of variable_name

// Step 6: Inspect registers
(gdb) info registers      // Display all CPU registers

// Step 7: To step through the program, use:
// (gdb) step
// (gdb) next

// Step 8: Exit GDB
(gdb) quit