Chapter 14: Problem 51

T F If a class has a pointer as a member, it’s a good idea to also have a copy constructor.

Short Answer

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Explain your answer. Answer: Yes, it is a good idea to have a copy constructor when a class has a pointer as a member. When a class contains pointers or other forms of dynamic memory allocation, a copy constructor is crucial in avoiding undefined behavior and potential memory-related issues such as shallow copy or memory leaks. Without a properly defined copy constructor that performs a deep copy, any changes to the pointer member in one object can affect the other object, leading to unexpected behavior and memory issues.

Step by step solution

Understanding the statement

In the given statement "If a class has a pointer as a member, it's a good idea to also have a copy constructor," we need to determine if the statement is True (T) or False (F). To do this, let's first understand what a copy constructor is and its importance when a class has a pointer as a member.

Copy constructor

A copy constructor is a special type of constructor that is used to create a new object as a copy of an existing object. The new object should have the same state (values of its members) as the existing object. Copy constructors are crucial when the class contains pointers or other forms of dynamic memory allocation due to the possibility of undefined behavior and potential memory-related issues, such as shallow copy or memory leaks.

Regular constructor vs. copy constructor

When we create an object using a regular constructor, the compiler allocates memory for the object data members and initializes their values according to the constructor's logic. However, when we create an object using a copy constructor, the compiler initializes the new object by copying the values of the existing object's data members. In the case of pointer members, this can lead to problems if the copy constructor is not properly defined.

Shallow Copy Vs. Deep Copy

By default, a copy constructor performs a shallow copy, i.e., it copies the address that a pointer member points to, not the actual value of the pointed object. It leads to both the original and copied objects sharing the same memory address. Any changes to one object's pointer member will affect the other object, leading to unexpected behavior and possible memory issues. A deep copy, on the other hand, involves allocating new memory for the copied object and copying the values of the pointed objects, ensuring that the new object is entirely independent of the original object.

Conclusion

When a class has a pointer as a member, it is essential to have a copy constructor that performs a deep copy to avoid undefined behavior and potential memory-related issues. Therefore, the statement is True (T).

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T F If a class has a pointer as a member, it’s a good idea to also have a copy constructor.

Short Answer

Step by step solution

Understanding the statement

Copy constructor

Regular constructor vs. copy constructor

Shallow Copy Vs. Deep Copy

Conclusion

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