Thread: Freeing memory from vector of structs

After I performed some operations on the vector of structs, I need to free the memory. I suppose clear() will not be sufficient, but I'm not sure how to perform individual delete.

Code:

typedef std::vector<VertexRAM> VecVertexRAM; // definition of a vector of structs

template <typename type>
void freeFromMemory(std::vector<type>& myVec) {
    typename std::vector<type>::iterator myIter=myVec.begin();
    while(myIter!=myVec.end()) {
	delete(*myIter);
	++myIter;
    }
    myVec.clear();
}

This outputs the following error:

Code:

error: type ‘struct VertexRAM’ argument given to ‘delete’, expected pointer

Any ideas on how to do this? Thanks

Thanks. So, what is your suggestion to free the memory from std::vector<VertexRAM> (which is a vector of structs)?
Small code sample might help.
What do you think of the following (bottom of the page):
Does std::vector.clear() do delete (free memory) on each element? - Stack Overflow

Thanks

I monitor RAM usage, and I simply need to free the memory in the middle of the function (after I'm finished with vector of structs). Is that possible?

Here is the thing.
In a specific function, I need to perform operation on std::vector<VectorRAM>. Obviously, this vector consumes much memory. After I finish operation with this vector, I need to perform some 'other operations' which would consume additional memory (and, therefore, I would need to free it).
If I understand your suggestion correctly, I should split the function in 2. Would this really free my memory? Yes, if I make variables that I need for the 'other operations' external to the first function.
I wonder in what way to do it within the function.
Thanks

Note that the input std::vector<VertexRAM> is not internal to the function (it is passed as a parameter from another function). I'm not sure how to introduce a local scope. Perhaps a small example might help (provided the assumption from above).

As for the swapping, if the two vectors are 'exchanged', what would then be memory consumption of the previously empty one? This would take the role of the first in consuming memory. (correct me if I'm wrong)

I found the following (swapping contents) on:
A Beginner's Tutorial For std::vector, Part 1 - CodeGuru

Code:

std::vector<int> v;
//...
v.clear();
v.swap(std::vector<int>(v));

I tried to adjust it to my case:

Code:

     vertices.clear();
     VecVertexRAM vert;
     vertices.swap(vert);

However, system monitoring shows no decrease in the RAM memory consumption after the lines above are executed. You could help by providing small code samples that I might test. Thanks

Originally Posted by brewbuck

There is no guarantee that when you release memory the system actually releases memory. The "free" memory just goes back to the heap where it can be allocated again.

Do you think that THE ABOVE might the explanation to the following: Even by monitoring RAM consumption (using System Monitor in Ubuntu), after I free the memory consumed by vector (by some of the methods described above, such as swapping, for example) I see no decrease in RAM memory consumption (actually, sometimes there is a large drop, sometimes very little drop, and sometimes no drop at all). This is why I want to have really free memory. Is it somehow possible?
Thanks for your patience.