Freeing array of c-strings

Question

Here I have an array of dynamically-allocated c-strings.

What is the proper way to free such an array?
It is necessary to individually free each element of A, as code below?

Thank you.

#include <string.h>
int main()
{
    const char** A = new const char*[3];
    A[0] = (const char*)memcpy(new char[5], "str0", 5);
    A[1] = (const char*)memcpy(new char[5], "str1", 5);
    A[2] = (const char*)memcpy(new char[5], "str2", 5);

    // Is this the proper way to free everything?
    for (int i = 0; i < 3; ++i)
        delete[] A[i];
    delete[] A;
}

Why not use a std::vector<std::string> and leave the memory management to the standard library? — NathanOliver
– NathanOliver, Commented Nov 29, 2016 at 20:38
#include <string> -- Yet you failed to use std::string. This is the header that defines std::string, std::wstring, etc. I don't know what else you expected when you included this header. — PaulMcKenzie
– PaulMcKenzie, Commented Nov 29, 2016 at 20:41
c-strings are faster than library strings -- Nothing stopped them from writing a simple C++ class that handles strings. If they were competent, it shouldn't have taken more than an hour. — PaulMcKenzie
– PaulMcKenzie, Commented Nov 29, 2016 at 20:46
@SamShen Yeah there should almost be no difference between std::string and doing it yourself. When you get the added benefits of all the built in functions, memory safety and ease of use it is worth using std::string. About the only time not to is if you know you have/need a fixed sized buffer. — NathanOliver
– NathanOliver, Commented Nov 29, 2016 at 20:47

Gavin Haynes · Accepted Answer · 2016-11-29 20:39:18Z

6

Yes. Everything is OK as long as every new ...[] is matched with a delete[] ....

answered Nov 29, 2016 at 20:39

Gavin Haynes

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