C++ Tutorial: Memory Management
Stack vs heap, new and delete, memory leaks, smart pointers — unique_ptr and shared_ptr — and RAII.
You control the memory
In Python, Java, and JavaScript, a garbage collector frees memory for you. In C++, **you are the garbage collector** — unless you use smart pointers.
Manual memory management (`new`/`delete`) gives ultimate control but is error-prone. Smart pointers (`unique_ptr`, `shared_ptr`) give you the same control automatically — this is the modern C++ way.
What you'll learn in this C++ memory management tutorial
This interactive C++ tutorial has 6 hands-on exercises. Estimated time: 22 minutes.
- Stack vs heap — Two places memory lives:
- new and delete — manual heap allocation — `new` allocates memory on the heap and returns a pointer.
- Memory leaks — A **memory leak** happens when you `new` but forget to `delete`.
- unique_ptr — exclusive ownership — `unique_ptr` automatically deletes when it goes out of scope. Zero overhead vs raw pointer.
- shared_ptr — shared ownership — `shared_ptr` allows multiple owners. It tracks the reference count — deletes when the last owner goes away.
- Build a safe resource manager — No starter code.
C++ Memory Management concepts covered
- You control the memory