Is the C++ compiler optimizer allowed to break my destructor ability to be called multiple times?

Question

We once had an interview with a very experienced C++ developer who couldn\'t answer the following question: is it necessary to call the base class destructor from the de

Answer 1

Calling the destructor converts an object into raw memory. You cannot destruct raw memory; this is undefined behaviour. The C++ compiler is entitled to do anything it wants. While it is unlikely that it will turn your computer in cottage cheese, it might deliberately trigger a slap-on-the-wrist SEGFAULT (at least in debug mode).