How to define a Copy constructor with pointers in it?

Question

I have recently discovered that when I have pointers within a class, I need to specify a Copy constructor.

To learn that, I have made the following simple code. It compiles, but gives me runtime error when performing the copy constructor.

I am trying to copy just the value from the pointer of the copied object, but avoiding assigning the same address.

So, what's wrong here?

    #include <stdio.h>
    #include <stdlib.h>
    #include <float.h>
    #include <math.h>
    #include <iostream>


    using namespace std;


    class TRY{
        public:
        TRY();
    ~TRY();
        TRY(TRY const &);

        int *pointer;

        void setPointer(int);
    };


    void TRY::setPointer(int a){
        *pointer = a;

        return;
    }


    TRY::TRY(){}


    TRY::~TRY(){}


    TRY::TRY(TRY const & copyTRY){
        int a = *copyTRY.pointer;
        *pointer = a;
    }



    int main(){

        TRY a;
        a.setPointer(5);

        TRY b = a;

        b.setPointer(8);

        cout << "Address of object a = " << &a << endl;
        cout << "Address of object b = " << &b << endl;

        cout << "Address of a.pointer = " << a.pointer << endl;
        cout << "Address of b.pointer = " << b.pointer << endl;

        cout << "Value in a.pointer = " << *a.pointer << endl;
        cout << "Value in b.pointer = " << *b.pointer << endl;

        return 0;
    }

I'll be using this concept for other classes with lots of pointers in it, where I need to copy all values from on object to the other. Copying is initially necessary for this code, so I would like to keep the copying possibility (I won't be hiding the copy constructor as private).

Besides, the real class I need to implement has like 10 pointers, and it might be changing with time. Isn't there a somewhat smarter way to have a deep copy constructor in C++?...

Answer 1

if it has a pointer to a regular type then

A::A(const A& a):
  pointer_( new int( *a.pointer_ ) )
{
}

if it has a pointer to some base class then

A::A(const &a ):
  pointer_( a.pointer_->clone() )
{
}

Clone is a implementation of a prototype pattern

Don't forget to delete the pointer in the destructor

A::~A()
{
    delete pointer_;
}

To fix your example

TRY::TRY(TRY const & copyTRY){
    int a = *copyTRY.pointer;
    pointer = new int(a);
}

Answer 2

With the statement int* pointer you have just defined a pointer but has not allocated any memory. First you should make it point to a proper memory location by allocating some memory like this: int* pointer = new int. Then in the copy constructor again you have to allocate the memory for the copied object. Also, don't forget to release the memory using delete in the destructor.

I hope this example helps:

class B
{

public:
    B();
    B(const B& b);
    ~B();
    void setVal(int val);

private:
    int* m_p;
};

B::B() 
{
    //Allocate the memory to hold an int
    m_p = new int;

    *m_p = 0;
}

B::B(const B& b)
{
    //Allocate the memory first
    m_p = new int;

    //Then copy the value from the passed object
    *m_p = *b.m_p;
}

B::~B()
{

    //Release the memory allocated
    delete m_p;
    m_p = NULL;
}

void B::setVal(int val)
{
    *m_p = val;
}

Answer 3

If you want to do a deep copy, you of course must also allocate new memory to hold the values. If the original has a pointer to an int, and you don't want the copy to use the same pointer value, you must allocate new memory to hold an int, and then copy the value there.

Your example is not very clear, it doesn't show the implementation of your copy constructor, or how the pointer member gets initialized.

Answer 4

Your problem is in this line right here:

    *pointer = a;

All the stuff that normally happens in your default constructor hasn't happened yet, including the allocation of memory for *pointer.

The fix is to allocate memory for an integer. You can use malloc and friends or new for this, but make sure it's the same method you use in your default constructor, because you only get one destructor, and the calls have to match.

Answer 5

If a member-wise (shallow) copy is okay, then you don't have to do anything. If you want a deep copy, you have to allocate new storage for copies of all the members.

Answer 6

When writing a Copy Constructor, you should allocate memory for all members. In your case:

TRY::TRY(TRY const & copyTRY){
    pointer = new int(*(copyTry.pointer));
}

Operator= is somehow similar, but with no memory allocation.

TRY& operator=(TRY const& otherTRY){
      this->a  = *(otherTry.pointer)
      return *this
}

Answer 7

FAQ 22.5 may be of interest.

Answer 8

I have recently discovered that when I have pointers within a class, I need to specify a Copy constructor.

It is not completely true. When you have pointers in your class and allocate the memory using new then you have to worry about copy constructor. Also, don't forget the assignment operator and destructor. You have to delete the memory allocated using delete.

It's called Law Of The Big Three.

Example:

  ~Matrix();  //Destructor
  Matrix(const Matrix& m); //Copy constructor
  Matrix& operator= (const Matrix& m); //Assignment operator

Answer 9

I have recently discovered that when I have pointers within a class, I need to specify a Copy constructor

More often than not it is a good idea to simply disable it by declaring it (and the assigment operator) private and not implementing it.

Answer 10

More often than not, if YOU need to write a copy constructor or assignment operator you're doing something wrong. Leave the copy constructors and assignment operators to the implementers of the standard library. Compose your classes of already-copyable and assignable elements and you won't have to write your own.

For example, maybe that int * member should be a std::vector instead.

If you can't make the class default copyable/assignable, maybe you can make it non-copyable/assignable by declaring, but not implementing, a private copy constructor and assignment operator.

Only if none of the above are feasible should you implement your own copy constructor or assignment operator.