C++ inheritance destructor

A destructor is a member function with the same name as its class prefixed by a ~ (tilde). For example: class X { public: // Constructor for class X X(); // Destructor for class X ~X(); }; A destructor takes no arguments and has no return type.

A virtual destructor is used to free up the memory space allocated by the derived class object or instance while deleting instances of the derived class using a base class pointer object .

Destructors cannot be declared const , volatile , const volatile or static . A destructor can be declared virtual or pure virtual . If no user-defined destructor exists for a class and one is needed, the compiler implicitly declares a destructor.

There has to be only one Destructor in a class . A Destructor has no return type and no parameters. If we do specify a destructor in class then, the compiler creates a default destructor.

Definition of destructor 1 : a furnace or oven for the burning of refuse : incinerator. 2a : a device for destroying a missile or a part thereof at a desired time in its flight.

A destructor of a class A is trivial if all the following are true: It is implicitly defined. All the direct base classes of A have trivial destructors . The classes of all the nonstatic data members of A have trivial destructors.

A class has a non-trivial destructor if it either has an explicitly defined destructor, or if it has a member object or a base class that has a non-trivial destructor .19 Kas 2011