Question

I have an array of pointers: pArray[rows][columns], where each element can contain a pointer to an object. Some of the objects were instantiated in main() on the heap, and some were instantiated by objects themselves also on the heap: That is, I passed pArray to an object member function, and that function created a new object, and put a pointer to it in pArray.

Now when I want to delete pointers to objects from pArray, is there ownership in play here? Meaning, if an object created a new object and placed a pointer to it in pArray, can only the creator object call delete on that pointer? Or can I do it from main(), and other objects by passing the array to them?

Some more details:

The code simulates a predator prey model on a grid (pArray). So I begin by reading in the initial grid config from a file, and instantiate objects (predators, and prey), on pArray from main(). But predators and prey can breed, so objects spawn new objects and by passing pArray to them, they instantiate their children on pArray.

Answer 1

No, there is no “ownership” on pointers in C++, if the pointer is valid (contains proper reference to data / object), you can deallocate it anywhere issuing delete command.