FAQ 12.12 What if delete p (not delete p ) is used to delete an array allocated via new Fredn ?

FAQ 12.12 What if delete p (not delete[] p) is used to delete an array allocated via new Fred[n]?

Catastrophe.

It is the programmer's responsibility not the compiler's to verify that the connection between new[] and delete[] is correct. If it is wrong, don't expect either a compiler error message or a clean runtime exception. Expect a disaster. Worse, the disaster might not show up during testing; it might not show up until after the software is in the field.

For example, some implementations immediately corrupt the heap when the [] is omitted when deleting an array of objects; other implementations fail to destruct all but the first object in the array. The latter could cause memory leaks if the destructors release memory, cause deadlock if the destructors unlock semaphores, compromise system integrity in other ways, or trigger some combination of any or all of these.

Remember that this headache can be instantly eliminated if container classes, such as vector, are used instead of raw pointers. Please use raw pointers only when it's absolutely necessary.