In the context of C++ (not that it matters):
class Foo{
private:
int x[100];
public:
Foo();
}
What I've learnt tells me that if you create an instance of Foo like so:
Foo bar = new Foo();
Then the array x is allocated on the heap, but if you created an instance of Foo like so:
Foo bar;
Then it's created on the stack.
I can't find resources online to confirm this.
Given a slight modification of your example:
class Foo{
private:
int x[100];
int *y;
public:
Foo()
{
y = new int[100];
}
~Foo()
{
delete[] y;
}
}
Example 1:
Foo *bar = new Foo();
- x and y are on the heap:
- sizeof(Foo*) is created on the stack.
- sizeof(int) * 100 * 2 + sizeof(int *) is on the heap
Example 2:
Foo bar;
- x is on the stack, and y is on the heap
- sizeof(int) * 100 is on the stack (x) + sizeof(int*)
- sizeof(int) * 100 is on the heap (y)
Actual sizes may differ slightly due to class/struct alignment depending on your compiler and platform.
Strictly speaking, according to the standard the object need not exist on a stack or heap. The standard defines 3 types of 'storage duration', but doesn't state exactly how the storage must be implemented:
- static storage duration
- automatic storage duration
- dynamic storage duration
Automatic storage duration is typically (nearly always) implemented using the stack.
Dynamic storage duration is typically implemented using the heap (ultimately via malloc()
), though this can be overridden even by the compiler's user.
Static storage duration is what it typically known as globals (or static storage).
The standard has this to say about these things (the following are excerpts form various bits of 3.7 - Storage Duration):
Static and automatic storage durations
are associated with objects introduced
by declarations (3.1) and implicitly
created by the implementation (12.2).
The dynamic storage duration is
associated with objects created with
operator new (5.3.4).
...
All objects which neither have dynamic
storage duration nor are local have
static storage duration. The storage
for these objects shall last for the
duration of the program (3.6.2,
3.6.3).
...
Local objects explicitly declared auto
or register or not explicitly declared
static or extern have automatic
storage duration. The storage for
these objects lasts until the block in
which they are created exits.
...
Objects can be created dynamically
during program execution (1.9), using
new-expressions (5.3.4), and destroyed
using delete-expressions (5.3.5). A C
+ + implementation provides access to, and management of, dynamic storage via
the global allocation functions
operator new and operator new[] and
the global deallocation functions
operator delete and operator delete[].
...
The library provides default
definitions for the global allocation
and deallocation functions. Some
global allocation and deallocation
functions are replaceable (18.4.1)
And finally (regarding the array in your example class):
3.7.4 Duration of sub-objects [basic.stc.inherit]
The storage duration of member subobjects, base class subobjects and array elements is that of their complete
object (1.8).
An object of type Foo takes the size of 100 ints stored in sequence.
If you create it on the stack, you will be getting it all on the stack.
If you do it with new, it'll be on the heap as part of the object.
This is part of the language specification, I'm not sure what your question is.
Yes, the member array x
will be created on the heap if you create the Foo
object on the heap. When you allocate dynamic memory for Foo
you are asking for memory of length sizeof(Foo)
(plus possibly some memory overhead, but let's ignore that for the time being), which in your sample code implies the size of 100 int
s. This has to be case for the lifespan of objects of type Foo
(and their internal data) to cross scopes.
If you don't create the Foo
object on the heap, and the internal array of Foo
isn't a pointer to which you allocate memory with new
in Foo
's constructor then that internal array will be created on the stack. Again, this has to be the case in order for the array to automatically be cleaned without any delete
s when the scope ends. Specifically,
struct Foo {
int* y;
Foo() : y(new int()) { }
~Foo() { delete y; }
};
will create y
on the heap regardless of whether a Foo
object was created on the stack or on the heap.
You mean
Foo* bar = new Foo();
I suppose. That is created in the heap.