Question

I have the following code:

template<class T>
class RandomTreeNode {
private:
    RandomTreeNode<T> *left;
    RandomTreeNode<T> *right;
public:
    RandomTreeNode(): left(0), right(0) {}

    void create_left_child(){ left = &RandomTreeNode<T>();}
    void create_right_child(){ right = &RandomTreeNode<T>();}

But this gives me a compile error because I am pointing to the address of a temporary variable. I don’t want the new RandomTreeNode’s being created to be destroyed at the end of the function, how can I achieve this?

Answer 1

Use:

void create_left_child()
{
    left = new RandomTreeNode<T>();
}

void create_right_child()
{
    right = new RandomTreeNode<T>();
}

And remember you have to delete them when you no longer need them (probably when the entire tree is destructed, or when that particular node gets deleted).