Delete vs. Delete[] in C : When to Use Which?

Distinguishing Delete and Delete[] in C

When working with dynamic memory allocation in C , two operators come into play: delete and delete[]. Understanding their distinctions is crucial for proper memory management.

Delete: Single Object Deletion

The delete operator deallocates memory for a single object that was allocated using the new operator. When delete is applied, the object's destructor (if defined) is called, and the memory it occupied is returned to the system heap.

Delete[]: Array Deletion

In contrast, delete[] is employed to deallocate memory for an array of objects instantiated with new []. Unlike delete, it iterates through the array, calls the destructor of each object, and releases the entire array's memory back to the heap.

Incorrect Use and Consequences

It's important to note that using delete on a pointer returned by new [] or vice versa will result in undefined behavior. This is because delete expects to deallocate a single object, while delete[] operates on an array. Incorrect usage can lead to memory corruption and unpredictable consequences.

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