Pointers

ok i want to make a function and use a pointer and make it in free store part of the memory like this:

#include <iostream.h>

void hi();

int main ()

{
cout<<"hi"<<endl;
hi();
cout<<pAge<<endl;

/* it doesnt remember pAge when it should be in the free store part of memory which means it should stay in memory right ? */

}

void hi()

{
int * pAge = new short int;
*pAge = 6;

}

why is pAge deleted from memory when i put it in free store where it shouldnt be deleted ?

That is because of your function:

PHP Code:

---

void hi() 

{ 
int * pAge = new short int; 
*pAge = 6; 

} 


---

You are trying to reinitialize the pointer as a new integer inside the function and the function will delete the pointer as soon as it's returned. So you have nothing left in the point after you call the function.

A working approach would be like this:

PHP Code:

---

#include <iostream.h> 

void hi(); 

int main () 

{ 
int * pAge = new short int;  //initialize the pointer outside the function
cout<<"hi"<<endl; 
hi(); 
cout<<pAge<<endl; 

/* it doesnt remember pAge when it should be in the free store part of memory which means it should stay in memory right ? */ 

} 

void hi() 

{ 
//just set the pointer's value
*pAge = 6; 
} 


---

ok now I see what was wrong. Thanks for the reply.

It doesn't free the memory, it just forgets the pointer. You've created a fine memory leak here...

BTW, abdul's code won't work either because the identifier pAge is local to the function main and can't be used in hi.

And note that you should be using the Standard C++ Library headers (i.e. <iostream> not <iostream.h>).


And yes, the campaign starts here :D