New--keyword

[Butcher3Years]

The new Keyword in C++: Dynamic Memory Allocation on the Heap

The new keyword is how you allocate memory on the heap at runtime in C++.
Unlike stack variables (which disappear when scope ends), heap-allocated objects live until you explicitly delete them.

Basic Syntax

Type* pointer = new Type;               // default constructor
Type* pointer = new Type(args);         // constructor with arguments

// For arrays
Type* arrayPtr = new Type[size];        // array of size elements (default ctor)

Real Examples

#include <iostream>
#include <string>

class Entity {
public:
    Entity() { std::cout << "Entity created (default)\n"; }
    Entity(const std::string& name) 
        : m_Name(name) 
    { 
        std::cout << "Entity created: " << m_Name << "\n"; 
    }
    ~Entity() { std::cout << "Entity destroyed: " << m_Name << "\n"; }

private:
    std::string m_Name = "Unknown";
};

int main() {
    // Single object on heap
    Entity* e1 = new Entity();              // calls default ctor
    Entity* e2 = new Entity("Cherno");      // calls parameterized ctor

    // Array on heap
    int* numbers = new int[10];             // 10 ints, uninitialized (garbage values)
    Entity* entities = new Entity[3];       // calls default ctor 3 times!

    // Don't forget to clean up!
    delete e1;                              // calls destructor + frees memory
    delete e2;
    delete[] numbers;                       // MUST use delete[] for arrays
    delete[] entities;                      // calls destructors for each element

    // std::cin.get();  // pause to see output
}

Output (something like):
text

Entity created (default)
Entity created: Cherno
Entity created (default)
Entity created (default)
Entity created (default)
Entity destroyed: Unknown
Entity destroyed: Unknown
Entity destroyed: Unknown
Entity destroyed: Cherno
Entity destroyed: Unknown

#IT JUST RETURNS A VOID POINTER