Why doesn't the C++ default destructor destroy my objects?

Question

The C++ specification says the default destructor deletes all non-static members. Nevertheless, I can\'t manage to achieve that.

I have this:

class N         


        

Answer 1

Imagine something like this:

class M {
public:
    M() { }
//  ~M() {        // If this happens by default
//      delete n; // then this will delete an arbitrary pointer!
//  }
private:
    N* n;
};

You're on your own with pointers in C++. No one will automatically delete them for you.

The default destructor will indeed destroy all member objects. But the member object in this case is a pointer itself, not the thing it points to. This might have confused you.

However, if instead of a simple built-in pointer, you will use a smart pointer, the destruction of such a "pointer" (which is actually a class) might trigger the destruction of the object pointed to.