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Memory leak when using std::map with custom class in C++17

👀 Views: 267 đŸ’Ŧ Answers: 1 📅 Created: 2025-08-06
c++17 memory-management std-map C++

I'm encountering a memory leak when using `std::map` to store instances of a custom class in C++17. The class has a pointer to a dynamically allocated resource, and I'm not sure if I'm managing memory correctly. My class looks something like this: ```cpp class MyClass { public: MyClass() : data(new int[100]) {} ~MyClass() { delete[] data; } private: int* data; }; ``` I use `std::map` to hold instances of `MyClass` like this: ```cpp std::map<int, MyClass> myMap; myMap[1] = MyClass(); myMap[2] = MyClass(); ``` However, I'm seeing that the memory usage of my application keeps increasing over time. I've tried using `valgrind`, and I'm getting messages like: ``` Invalid read of size 4 Conditional jump or move depends on uninitialised value(s) ``` I've made sure that `MyClass`'s destructor is correctly deleting the allocated memory. I even tried storing `MyClass` as a pointer in the map: ```cpp std::map<int, std::unique_ptr<MyClass>> myMap; myMap[1] = std::make_unique<MyClass>(); ``` But I'm still seeing memory leaks in this case, too. Is there something I'm missing about managing memory in this context? Are there specific patterns or practices I should follow when using custom classes with STL containers? Any insight would be greatly appreciated! I've been using C++ for about a year now.