cppLogic errorMedium

delete vs delete[] mismatch on dynamic array

Time: 0:00

BugFind the bug and fix the code

What it should do

Allocate and deallocate dynamic integer buffer cleanly. Example: manageDynamicBuffer(5) -> 5

What happens instead

Crash: free(): invalid size (array deleted without [])

#include <iostream>

int manageDynamicBuffer(int size) {
    int* buffer = new int[size];
    for (int i = 0; i < size; ++i) buffer[i] = i;
    int val = buffer[size - 1] + 1;
    // Allocated with new[], but freed with scalar delete
    delete buffer;
    return val;
}

int main() {
    std::cout << manageDynamicBuffer(5) << std::endl;
    return 0;
}

Test a custom input to verify an edge case (e.g. empty lists, negative numbers, duplicates).

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Hint 3

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This bug belongs to the logic errors pattern

The wrong operator, an inverted condition, a formula the right way round but backwards.

Learn the logic errors pattern Step through your own code

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#include <iostream> int manageDynamicBuffer(int size) { int* buffer = new int[size]; for (int i = 0; i < size; ++i) buffer[i] = i; int val = buffer[size - 1] + 1; // Allocated with new[], but freed with scalar delete delete buffer; return val; } int main() { std::cout << manageDynamicBuffer(5) << std::endl; return 0; }

delete vs delete[] mismatch on dynamic array

What it should do

What happens instead

More logic errors to practise

delete vs delete[] mismatch on dynamic array

What it should do

What happens instead

More logic errors to practise