Memory Leak

2024 | AI Dictionary

What is Memory Leak: A programming error where a program fails to release unused memory, leading to resource accumulation and potential system crashes.

What is Memory Leak?

A memory leak occurs when a program fails to release memory that is no longer needed, leading to reduced performance or system crashes. Over time, unused memory accumulates, consuming system resources and potentially causing the application to slow down or crash.

Causes of Memory Leaks

  1. Unclosed Resources: Not properly releasing resources like file handles or database connections.
  2. Dangling References: Objects that are no longer needed but are still referenced in the program.
  3. Improper Garbage Collection: When the garbage collector fails to reclaim memory from unreferenced objects.

Preventing Memory Leaks

Example of Memory Leak

In C++:

#include <iostream>

void createMemoryLeak() {
    int* leak = new int[1000]; // Memory allocated but never freed
    // No delete[] leak; here, causing a memory leak
}

int main() {
    createMemoryLeak();
    return 0;
}

This code allocates memory for an array but does not release it, causing a memory leak.

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