delete on a NULL pointer

**myname** · 10-02-2003

Instead of

Code:

if (ptr)
{
  delete ptr;
  ptr = 0;
}

can I use

Code:

 delete ptr;
 ptr = 0;

Is it true that if delete is called with a null pointer the code will not crash, since delete has internal checks.

---------------------------------------
Why do i want to do this?
The boss wants me to!

**bennyandthejets** · 10-02-2003

Why don't you try it and see?

EDIT: Also, why are you wasting our time? Just out of interest I googled for "c++ delete operator", and the first result was this:
http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/de...express_29.asp. Have a read.

Please at least TRY to figure out your problems before you make US do it.

**swoopy** · 10-02-2003

>Is it true that if delete is called with a null pointer the code will not crash, since delete has internal checks.

Yes, it's true, so you can use your second example. See Cat's post here: http://cboard.cprogramming.com/showt...ghlight=delete

**twm** · 10-02-2003

>Also, why are you wasting our time?
If it's a waste of your time, do something else. I don't mind directing people to google when they're ignorant of it's usefulness for answering these kind of questions.

>Please at least TRY to figure out your problems before you make US do it.
This isn't a problem, it's a simple question concerning the definition of the delete operator. Does it accept a null pointer? Yes. Does passing it a null pointer do anything? No, it's a no-op, so you can write code that assumes either valid new'd memory, or a null pointer and everything will work nicely.

**bennyandthejets** · 10-02-2003

If myname had googled in the first place, he/she would have gotten the exact answer needed much more quickly, without wasting our time as well.

**twm** · 10-02-2003

>If myname had googled in the first place
This is assuming that myname is aware of google and how it can be used to answer questions. Not everyone knows how to find answers to their questions like you do, perhaps you should be more tolerant.

>without wasting our time as well
That's a pretty stuck up attitude, dude. I don't know about you, but I come here to help people learn new things. Things like how to use google as well as how to use C/C++.

**bennyandthejets** · 10-02-2003

In that case, there should be something in the FAQ about how to use Google. I find nearly everything I need using Google, and I wouldn't mind imparting that knowledge to other people. I'll mention it to a moderator.

Myname, I'm sorry if you didn't know to use Google. Here's a quick tip:

Go to Google. In the search string, always type c++ first, that way, all your sites should be relevant. then type in the name of whatever it is that you're searching. Eg:

"c++ delete operator"
"c++ linked list"
"c++ class inheritance"
"c++ dynamic memory allocation"

A lot of the time, the first result will be an MSDN site. These are great, but remember, never use the search function provided by MSDN. So many times in the past, a search string in MSDN has returned NO results, yet the same search string in Google has returned the perfect page AT MSDN.

So, next time you have a problem, see if you can find the problem by googling it, and if not, come to us and we'll help.

**swoopy** · 10-02-2003

Twm, I agree with you. Don't you just love these people who are condescending to new posters, even though at one time they were the newbies??? Gee, I'm too lazy to answer your idiotic questions.

**Cat** · 10-02-2003

I dunno, anyone who can navigate to this site should be able to use *a* search engine like Google, and anyone who can figure how to post a message should be able to use the "search" feature on the board to find the answer.

I never answer those trivial questions for the reason that if the person isn't going to spend 30 seconds finding the answer out themselves, I am not going to spend 30 seconds typing a reply.

I have no problem with newbies, I was one once, but I have a problem with people who make no attempt to learn on their own.

**swoopy** · 10-02-2003

I'll say this. Cat, until I saw your post about using delete on NULL pointers, I had no idea you could do this.

And another thing. Have you ever seen Salem answer a question? If you have, you become amazed at how elegant his solutions are. Imagine if experts like him refused to share their knowledge. Sure we'd get an answer, but not one like they provide.

**bennyandthejets** · 10-02-2003

Swoopy, I don't think Salem could give a better response to this question than Google could.

I was not condescending to Myname. First I told him/her to try the code to see if it DID make the program crash. It's pretty standard to try something if you're not sure about it. Then I googled it just out of curiousity and found the answer straight away, which implied that myname had not searched for the answer him/herself, as we are told to do in the Board FAQ somewhere I believe. The best way to prevent myname from doing this again was to take a harsh tone. It snaps people into shape when semi-flamed. I then posted the link to the exact answer that myname wanted. Therefore, I did everything necessary: I gave the answer, and I told myname how to get the answer more quickly.

Twm, I agree with you. Don't you just love these people who are condescending to new posters, even though at one time they were the newbies??? Gee, I'm too lazy to answer your idiotic questions.

I was once a newbie. You know why I'm not one anymore? Because people like I am now told me the way it is. I was snapped at many a time for asking stupid questions, and now I've learnt my lesson.

Let's cool this thread down. The question has been answered already. I'm sorry to anyone who doesn't like the way I go about teaching people, but IMO it works.

**swoopy** · 10-02-2003

BATJ, I agree with the concept you're teaching (do some research before posting).

The way I think of this CProgramming board is, that it represents the combined knowledge of all who post here, and so each time a question is answered, it help all in this community to become better programmers.

I know because we have Google, we could rely on google to give us the answer to most of the questions posted. But it's kind of analogous to giving someone the answer via private email. Only one person shares in the knowledge.

>Swoopy, I don't think Salem could give a better response to this question than Google could.

This is true. What I meant was, he knows tricks in C/C++ which none of the rest of us know. He could say: "I'm keeping my best triicks to myself." Fortunately he graciously shares them with the rest of the CProgramming community.

**bennyandthejets** · 10-02-2003

Agreed. Friends again?

**swoopy** · 10-02-2003

>Agreed. Friends again?

Sure, friends again. I'm just glad you, me, and hopefully others took this in good cheer!

**HybridM** · 10-02-2003

I never answer those trivial questions for the reason that if the person isn't going to spend 30 seconds finding the answer out themselves, I am not going to spend 30 seconds typing a reply.

He did spend time trying to find the answer, he knew he would get one here, so he asked. I would consider that 'trying to find the answer'. That said, usually before I post I search google and forum history but sometimes it's quicker to just post.

If it's that painful for any of you, then don't reply, especially replying just to say how useless it would be to reply.

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