If you really need to store a pointer for some reason, then there are some points to remember:
- Pointers are initialized like
new Class
- Prefer to initialize class members in the member initializer list
- Any time you write the word
new
think about where you're going to write delete
. (In this case it goes in the destructor.
- Rule of Three: If you need a destructor (you do, because of
delete
), then you also need a copy constructor and copy assignment operator.
This is one way your code could look: http://ideone.com/21yGgC
#include<iostream>
#include<string>
using std::cout; using std::endl;
using std::string;
class NoName
{
public:
NoName(string sName = "Alice In Wonderland") :
pstring(new string(sName))
{
cout << "ctor - " << *pstring << endl;
}
NoName(const NoName& rhs) :
pstring(new string(*rhs.pstring))
{
cout << "Copy ctor - " << *pstring << endl;
}
NoName& operator=(const NoName& rhs)
{
*pstring = *rhs.pstring;
cout << "Copy assignment operator - " << *pstring << endl;
return *this;
}
~NoName()
{
cout << "dtor, my name was " << *pstring << endl;
delete pstring;
}
private:
string *pstring;
};
.
int main()
{
NoName m, n("Another name");
NoName o(m);
o = n;
return 0;
}
Notice how much easier it is if you don't use the unnecessary pointer:
class Better
{
public:
Better(string sName = "Alice In Wonderland") :
m_string(sName)
{
}
private:
string m_string;
};
Because you don't need the custom destructor, you also don't need the copy constructor or copy assigment operator either. Much easier!