STL: delete needed along with erase?

[AbrahamLincolnIllinois]

Hi all.

I have a list of pointers to a complicated object. When I erase() a
member of that list, the little blob of memory that contains the
pointer is deleted, I think. But the object pointed to is not
deleted, true? It is not an auto_ptr or any kind of wrapped
pointer.

Further, I assume that the iterator I am holding is no longer valid
once I delete the element. I can't safely erase the member first,
then delete the object through the iterator. So the sequence ought to
be: 1. Delete the object. 2. Erase the list element.

I am checking my understanding, because the code I am working on,
which I inherited, doesn't delete the object at all, either before or
after the element is erased.
Abraham

[Victor Bazarov]

Ab********************@yahoo.com wrote:

I have a list of pointers to a complicated object. When I erase() a
member of that list, the little blob of memory that contains the
pointer is deleted, I think.

Whatever the implementation does to get rid of it, yes.

But the object pointed to is not
deleted, true?

True.

It is not an auto_ptr or any kind of wrapped
pointer.

Right. You cannot use 'auto_ptr', but 'shared_ptr' should be fine.

Further, I assume that the iterator I am holding is no longer valid
once I delete the element.

You mean, once you *erase* it? "Delete" has a particular meaning in
C++, as you know. Yes, the iterator is invalid if you erase the list
element behind it.

I can't safely erase the member first,
then delete the object through the iterator. So the sequence ought to
be: 1. Delete the object. 2. Erase the list element.

That sounds right.

I am checking my understanding, because the code I am working on,
which I inherited, doesn't delete the object at all, either before or
after the element is erased.

Good thinking.

V
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[AbrahamLincolnIllinois]

Thanks, Victor.

That's what I needed to know.
Abraham
On Jul 9, 9:22 am, "Victor Bazarov" <[e-mail]:

[e-mail] wrote:

I have a list of pointers to a complicated object. When I erase() a
member of that list, the little blob of memory that contains the
pointer is deleted, I think.

Whatever the implementation does to get rid of it, yes.

: :

[Default User]

Ab********************@yahoo.com wrote:

Thanks, Victor.

Please don't top-post. Your replies belong following or interspersed
with properly trimmed quotes. See the majority of other posts in the
newsgroup, or the group FAQ list:
<http://www.parashift.com/c++-faq-lite/how-to-post.html>