Question

A destructor has the same name as the class, but is preceded by a(n) _________ character.

Short answer

Answer: TILDE (~)

Step-by-step solution

Identify the Character

In C++ programming, a destructor is a special member function that is executed whenever an object goes out of scope or is deleted dynamically. A destructor has the same name as the class it belongs to and is preceded by a TILDE (~) character. So the correct answer is TILDE (~).

Key concepts

Understanding Object-Oriented Programming (OOP)

Object-oriented programming (OOP) is a programming paradigm based on the concept of 'objects', which can contain data in the form of fields (often known as attributes or properties) and code in the form of procedures (known as methods or functions). In OOP, each object is capable of receiving messages, processing data, and sending messages to other objects.

OOP allows for organized software design that is modular, where an application can be broken down into manageable pieces. This programming style accentuates the reusability of code, makes maintenance easier, and aims to make the complexity of the software more manageable.

Key features of OOP include encapsulation (bundling data with the methods that operate on it), inheritance (deriving new classes from existing ones), and polymorphism (the ability to present the same interface for different underlying data types). When discussing destructors in C++, they are part of an object’s lifecycle within OOP, handling the destruction phase for an object's resources.

Demystifying C++ Class Member Functions

In the realm of C++, a class is a blueprint for creating objects, and member functions are the behaviors that the objects derived from the class can exhibit. There are various types of member functions, and one of them is a special member called the destructor.

Destructors are critical in managing resources such as memory and system handles. They are invoked when an object's lifetime comes to an end to perform clean-up activities. For example, if your object holds a database connection, the destructor would be the rightful place to close this connection. Unlike other member functions, a destructor:

• Cannot be overloaded
• Has no return type
• Does not accept any parameters

It's distinctively named with a tilde (~) followed by the class name, signaling to the programmer and the compiler that its purpose is for destruction and cleanup.

Scope and Lifetime of Objects in C++

In C++, the scope and lifetime of an object are two fundamental concepts that determine when an object is created and destroyed.

Scope of Objects

The scope of an object is the context within a program in which it is visible and accessible. It is defined by where you declare the object - for example, inside a function, within a class, or at a global level. Objects defined within a block, like within a function, are local to that block and not visible outside of it.

Lifetime of Objects

Conversely, the lifetime of an object is the period during which it exists in memory. Local objects are destroyed once their scope (e.g., the block in which they are defined) ends, and this is where destructors come into play. In the context of dynamic allocation, where objects exist until they are explicitly deleted, destructors ensure that resources are released appropriately when the object is no longer required. Understanding scope and lifetime is crucial to avoid memory leaks and ensure that resources are correctly managed throughout an application's lifecycle.