C++ Destructors

C++ destructor is a special member function that is executed automatically when an object is destroyed that has been created by the constructor. C++ destructors are used to de-allocate the memory that has been allocated for the object by the constructor.

Destructor in c++ programming

Its syntax is same as constructor except the fact that it is preceded by the tilde sign.

~class_name() { };   //syntax of destructor

Structure of C++ destructors

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/*...syntax of destructor....*/
 class class_name
 {
      public:
         class_name();    //constructor.
        ~class_name();    //destructor.
}

Unlike constructor a destructor neither takes any arguments nor does it returns value. And destructor can’t be overloaded.

C++ Destructor Example

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/*.....A program to highlight the concept of destructor.......... */
#include <iostream>
using namespace std;
class ABC
{
    public:
        ABC () //constructor defined
       {
 	    cout << "Hey look I am in constructor" << endl;
       }
       ~ABC() //destructor defined
       {
             cout << "Hey look I am in destructor" << endl;
       }
};

int main()
{
     ABC cc1; //constructor is called
     cout << "function main is terminating...." << endl;
     /*....object cc1 goes out of scope ,now destructor is being called...*/
     return 0;
}  //end of program

Output

Hey look I am in constructor
function main is terminating....
Hey look I am in destructor

Explanation

In the above program, when constructor is called “Hey look I am in constructor” is printed then following it “Function main is terminating…..” is printed but after that the object cc1 that was created before goes out of scope and to de-allocate the memory consumed by cc1 destructor is called and “Hey I am in destructor” is printed.

Note: Remember that more than one destructor can’t be used in a program. Only single destructor is allowed.

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