A destructor is a class element that is called when a class goes out of scope. The class element that is called when a class is created is called the constructor.


#include <iostream>



struct MyClass

{

  ~MyClass() { std::cout << "Destructor\n"; }

};



int main()

{

  MyClass m;

} //MyClass destructor called at end of main

All base classes must have a (public) virtual destructor. A non-base class should have a (non-public) non-virtual destructor [1,3].

Avoid calling virtual member functions in constructors and destructors [2].

References

Herb Sutter, Andrei Alexandrescu. C++ coding standards: 101 rules, guidelines, and best practices. ISBN: 0-32-111358-6. Item 50: 'Make base class destructors public and virtual, or protected and nonvirtual'.
Herb Sutter, Andrei Alexandrescu. C++ coding standards: 101 rules, guidelines, and best practices. 2005. ISBN: 0-32-111358-6. Item 49: 'Avoid calling virtual functions in constructors and destructors'
Joint Strike Fighter Air Vehicle C++ Coding Standards for the System Development and Demonstration Program. Document Number 2RDU00001 Rev C. December 2005. AV Rule 78: 'All base classes with a virtual function shall define a virtual destructor.'

Go back to Richel Bilderbeek's C++ page.

Go back to Richel Bilderbeek's homepage.

(C++) Destructor

References