Introduction to Programming

Lecture 39
 Copy
Constructor
 Review
 Pointers
 References

 Memory Allocation
 Pointers
A pointer is a special type of
variable that contain a memory
address
 Void Pointer
 Pointer to an Integer
 Pointer to a Character
 Pointer to a Float
 Pointer to Objects
References
&
const
Dynamic
Memory
Allocation
Native Operator

 new
 delete
Dynamic Memory Allocation

int *p ;
p = new int ;
delete p ;
Dynamic Memory Allocation

int *p ;
p = new int [ 10 ] ;
delete [ ] p ;
 Example
class Matrix
{
private :
int * m ;
int row , col ;
public :
Matrix ( int rows , int cols )
{
m = new int [ rows * cols ] ;
}
};
delete [ ] m ;
Assignment
int i = 0 ;
//Initialization
int i ;
i = 0 ; //Assignment
Matrix m1 , m2 ;
……
m2 = m1 ;
//Assignment Statement
Member to
Member
Assignment
m2 = m1
 Pointing to the same
int *m of m1
region in memory
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mx

int *m of m2
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 Pointing to the same
int *m of m1
region in memory
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int *m of m2
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 Copy
Constructor
Call by
value
Shallow
Deep Copy
Copy
Matrix ( Matrix & ) ;
class String
Example
{
char * c ;
public :
void copy ( char * s ) ;
String ( char * data ) ;
void print ( ) ;
// etc.
};
 Example
String s1 ( “test1” ) ;

String s2 = s1 ;
s1.copy ( “this is a test” ) ;
s2.print ( ) ;
int i ;
i = 10 ;
i=i;
Matrix m2 ( m1 ) ;
Matrix m2 = m1 ;
 Rules
For dynamic memory allocation
1. Define copy constructor

2. Write assignment operator

3. Provide destructor
What have we covered today
 Review of pointers
– Dynamic memory allocation
 new
 Delete
 For memory allocation in classes we must provide
– Constructor
– Copy constructor
– Assignment operator
– destructor