虚析构函数的作用——C++多态性

我们在应用C++的多态特性时，常常会碰到一种情况，就是当指向基类的指针被释放时，派生类的析构函数其实没有被调用，导致在派生类中申请的空间没有被释放，导致内存泄漏。

如下：

#include <iostream>
// #include <stdlib.h>
using namespace std;

class Mammal {
public:
    Mammal() {cout << "Mammal constructor... \n";}
    // virtual ~Mammal() {cout << "Mammal destructor... \n";}
    ~Mammal() {cout << "Mammal destructor... \n";}
    virtual void Speak() const {cout << "Mammal speak!\n";}
};

class Dog:public Mammal {
public:
    Dog() {
        p = new int(0);
        cout << "Dog Constructor...\n";
    }
    ~Dog() {
        cout << "Dog destructor...\n";
        delete p;
    }
    void Speak() const {cout << "Woof!\n";}
private:
    int *p;
};

int main() {
    Mammal* pDog = new Dog;
    pDog->Speak();
    delete pDog;
    return 0;
}

我们可以看到程序的输出如下：

Mammal constructor... 
Dog Constructor...
Woof!
Mammal destructor...

派生类Dog的析构函数没有调用，Dog的构造函数申请的空间泄漏了。

此时，虚析构函数能够有效的防止这种情况的出现。

#include <iostream>
// #include <stdlib.h>
using namespace std;

class Mammal {
public:
    Mammal() {cout << "Mammal constructor... \n";}
    virtual ~Mammal() {cout << "Mammal destructor... \n";}
    // ~Mammal() {cout << "Mammal destructor... \n";}
    virtual void Speak() const {cout << "Mammal speak!\n";} 
};

class Dog:public Mammal {
public:
    Dog() {
        p = new int(0);
        cout << "Dog Constructor...\n";
    }
    ~Dog() {
        cout << "Dog destructor...\n";
        delete p;
    }
    void Speak() const {cout << "Woof!\n";}
private:
    int *p;
};

int main() {
    Mammal* pDog = new Dog;
    pDog->Speak();
    delete pDog;
    return 0;
}

通过将基类的析构函数声明为虚析构函数，成功的通过基类指针调用了派生类的析构函数，完成了内存的释放。

输出如下：

Mammal constructor... 
Dog Constructor...
Woof!
Dog destructor...
Mammal destructor...