Describe the action of the new operator. What does the operator new return?

Short Answer

Expert verified
Answer: The 'new' operator is used in programming languages to allocate memory for a new object, initialize it with its constructor, and return a reference to the memory address of the created object.

Step by step solution

01

Introduction to the 'new' Operator

The 'new' operator is commonly used in various programming languages such as C++, Java, and JavaScript. It is responsible for allocating memory for a new object or instance and initializing that object or instance with its constructor.
02

Allocating Memory

When the 'new' operator is used, it first allocates a block of memory of the size required for the object. It ensures that enough space is provided for storing all the instance variables and attributes associated with the object.
03

Object Initialization

After memory allocation, the 'new' operator initializes the object by calling its constructor (if there is one). The constructor is a special method that sets initial values for the object's properties and performs any other tasks necessary to create the object properly.
04

Return Value of 'new' Operator

Once the object has been initialized, the 'new' operator returns a reference or pointer to the memory address where the newly-created object is stored. This reference can then be used to manipulate the object, access its properties, and call its methods. To sum it up, the 'new' operator allocates memory for a new object, initializes it with its constructor, and returns a reference to the memory address of the created object.

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