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c++initializationnew-operatorbuilt-in-types

Does new[] initialise an array of builtins?


Does using new[] in C++ initialise the allocated array to all zeroes?


Solution

  • Does new[] initialise an array of builtins?

    It depends:

    int* = new int[42];   // default initialization: elements not initialized
    
    int* = new int[42](); // value initialization: elements are zero initialized
    

    Note the terminology: in the first example, the elements are said to be default-initialized, which for built-ins means no initialization is performed. In the second example, the elements are value-initialized, which for built-ins means zero-initialization.