How do I prevent double-free and dangling pointers in C++?

Preventing double-free and dangling pointers in C++ is crucial for ensuring memory safety and stability in your applications. Double-free occurs when you attempt to free the same memory location more than once, leading to undefined behavior. Dangling pointers arise when a pointer refers to a memory location that has already been deallocated. Here are some effective strategies to mitigate these issues:

Set pointers to nullptr after deletion: This ensures that the pointer does not point to an invalid memory location.
Use smart pointers: Smart pointers like std::unique_ptr and std::shared_ptr automatically handle memory management, thus reducing the chances of double-free and dangling pointers.
Avoid raw pointers when possible: Use containers or smart pointers that manage memory automatically.
Implement ownership rules: Clearly define which part of your code is responsible for managing the lifetime of objects.

Here's an example demonstrating how to use smart pointers to avoid these issues:


        #include <iostream>
        #include <memory>

        class MyClass {
        public:
            void greet() { std::cout << "Hello, World!" << std::endl; }
        };

        int main() {
            // Using unique_ptr to manage MyClass object
            std::unique_ptr myObj = std::make_unique();
            myObj->greet(); // Correctly manages memory

            // No need to delete, memory will be released automatically
            return 0;
        }

How do I prevent double-free and dangling pointers in C++?

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How do I prevent double-free and dangling pointers in C++?

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