The end of chapter 8

• Destructors
  • What are these, why are these and when are they called?
  • The compiler generated destructor
    • Just calls the destructor of all the members of the class.
    • This is actually done after the destructor "exits".
  • This happens for user written destructors as well.
• Objects are destroyed in reverse order of creation.
• See destDemo.cpp
• The assignment operator
  • If you don't supply one, the compiler will write one for you.
  • It will just do a shallow copy.
  • You can assign these to be default or delete as well.
    • However since c++11
      • If you have a define a copy constructor or destructor it will not generate an assignment operator.
    • And if you have an assignment operator or destructor the compiler will not generate an copy constructor.
  • Remember to check to see if you are copying onto yourself. (if this == &rhs)
  • Remember a=b=c is legal so return a reference to yourself (return *this);
• He points out that the copy constructor is called in object creation

  •         MyObj x;
    
            MyObj y(x); // calls the copy constructor
            MyObj z=x;  // calls the copy constructor as well.  
    
            z = x; // this is a call to the assignment operator.