C++ Dynamic array not allocating memory

Question

I am working with dynamic arrays in C++ and trying to assign a memory allocation. But, as I debug, I found out that the memory is not being allocated.

In header file:

Data *_elements;

In cpp file constructor:

_elements = new Data[10];

where Data is a struct, consisting a string type and int type.

While I am debugging, I noticed that the elements are not being assigned with 10 memory allocations.

I would like to know what is that I am doing wrong. Thank you!

What evidence do you have that "the elements are not being assigned with 10 memory allocations"? Why do you think there should be 10 allocations, as opposed to one big one? — Scott Hunter
Your debugger does not show all elements of the array. You can watch content with indices like _elements[1] — Ismail Durmaz
Thank you @İsmailDurmaz. Apparently, my debugger is not showing it! — Sasi Kiran Gaddipati
@SasiKiranGaddipati -- You should have always suspected that it is the tool you're using to view the variables, and not the program itself. It would be a big joke if a C++ compiler didn't produce the correct code to do a simple new[]. — PaulMcKenzie
fyi, _elements is a pointer, not an array, you just make it point to an array. — Raildex

HeatSeaker HeatSeaker · Accepted Answer · 2020-12-23T13:48:10

I'm pretty sure that the memory is being allocated, it's just not showing up. If you perform anything using these memory locations you will have them show up in your debugger. For example:

//you have something like this in some statement
element[i] //where i is some variable between and including 1-9. lets say 3

You will have element[3] show up in the debugger.

P.S. I'm starting out with C++, and programming as a whole, so please do correct me if I am wrong.

C++ Dynamic array not allocating memory

1 Answers