C++ keyword to dynamically allocate memory and returning a pointer to this memory.

If the allocation of memory fails, std::bad_alloc is thrown and a pointer to null is returned.

When the pointer is no longer needed, delete must be called.

Prefer the use of std::auto_ptr (or other smart pointers) over the use of plain pointers [0][1].

Example with simple class

int main()

{

const MyClass * const p = new MyClass; //Bad practice

//Use p

delete p; //Do not forget to delete p

}

Example with base and derived class

Suppose you have a base class called Animal and a derived class called Monkey. Then you can store a Monkey as an Animal in the following way.

int main()

{

const Animal * const p = new Monkey; //Bad practice

//Use the Animal interface of p (p does not know it is monkey anymore)

delete p; //Do not forget to delete p

}

Prefer the use of std::auto_ptr (or other smart pointers) over the use of plain pointers [0][1].

int main()

{

const std::auto_ptr<Animal> p = new Monkey;

//Use the Animal interface of p (p does not know it is monkey anymore)

//std::auto_ptr deletes p automatically

}

[0] Bjarne Stroustrup. The C++ Programming Language (3rd edition).ISBN: 0-201-88954-4

[1] Herb Sutter and Andrei Alexandrescu. C++ coding standards: 101 rules, guidelines, and best practices. ISBN: 0-32-111358-6