I know: delete[] for arrays, delete for single instances.
Now it gets tricky:
I have a factory function that creates memory, with content for other functions. It is then the obligation of the caller of the factory to delete the memory when no longer needed.
The factory allocates the memory as
BYTE* ret = new BYTE[ count ]
where count is a variable passed into the function.
Then the memory is returned via a LPVOID return.
The caller then casts the return to the desired type
LPVOID factory(DWORD count)
{
BYTE* ret = new BYTE[ count ];
// fill ret with data, i.e parts of files
return (LPVOID)ret;
}
void a_user()
{
DWORD* data = (DWORD*)factory( sizeof(*data) );
// now data is interpreted as DWORD data
}
My question is how do I delete the 'data' variable properly?
The factory allocated 4 BYTEs so I'd use delete[]
The DWORD* gets deleted in steps of 4 bytes anyway (or isn't it?), so I'd use delete
But which is correct?
Thanks
P.S I know there are other ways to do this, but I like it that way. So if you just want to tell me that this is bad programming you better give a good reason
[EDIT: block comment to line comment]
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I may be getting older, but I refuse to grow up
[edited by - Dreamforger on August 11, 2002 8:20:58 AM]
