operator new, operator new[]

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C++ Standard Library
Language Utilities library Strings library Containers library Algorithms library Iterators library Numerics library Input/output library Localizations library Regular expressions library (C++11) Atomic operations library (C++11) Thread support library (C++11)
Utilities library
Dynamic memory management
Low level memory management
Functions operator new operator new[] operator delete operator delete[] get_new_handler (C++11) set_new_handler Classes bad_alloc bad_array_new_length (C++11) nothrow_t Types new_handler Objects nothrow

Defined in header <new>
void* operator new  ( std::size_t count );	(1)
void* operator new[]( std::size_t count );	(2)
void* operator new  ( std::size_t count, const std::nothrow_t& );	(3)
void* operator new[]( std::size_t count, const std::nothrow_t& );	(4)
void* operator new  ( std::size_t, void* ptr );	(5)
void* operator new[]( std::size_t, void* ptr );	(6)

Allocates requested number of bytes. These allocation functions are called by new-expressions to allocate memory in which new object would then be initialized.

1-2) Allocates count bytes from free store. Calls the function pointer returned by std::get_new_handler on failure and repeats allocation attempts until new handler does not return or becomes a null pointer, at which time throws std::bad_alloc.

3-4) Same as 1-2, but returns a null pointer when 1-2 would throw std::bad_alloc

5-6) does nothing, returns ptr. These versions are called by new-expression which construct objects in previously allocated storage.

Contents 1 Replacing and overloading 2 Parameters 3 Return value 4 Exceptions 5 See also

[edit] Replacing and overloading

The versions 1-4) are implicitly declared in each translation unit even if the <new> header is not included. These functions are replaceable: a user-provided non-member function with the same signature replaces the implicit version. At most one replacement may be provided for each of the four implicit allocation functions. Also, program can define class member versions of these functions or define allocation functions with different signatures (except that it is not permitted to replace (5-6) versions of the allocation function). The added signature should look like the following, where count is number of bytes to allocate and placement_params are the parameters supplied to the new expression:

void* operator new  (size_t count/*, placement_params*/);		for the new version
void* operator new[](size_t count/*, placement_params*/);		for the new[] version

The allocation function can be replaced/overloaded in two ways:

in the global scope: in order to call it, the signature of the overloaded allocation functions must be visible at the place of allocation, except for implicitly declared default allocation functions. This allocation function will be used for all allocations with corresponding parameters in the current program

in the local scope: the overloaded operator new must be static public member function of the class. This allocation function will be used only for allocations of that particular class.

During compilation, each new expression looks up for appropriate allocation function's name firstly in the class scope and after that in the global scope. It can be instructed to skip the first step by calling new as ::new. Note, that as per overloading rules, any allocation functions declared in class scope hides all global allocation functions. For more information see new expression. Note, that it is not possible to place allocation function in a namespace.

[edit] Parameters

count	-	number of bytes to allocate
ptr	-	pointer to a memory area to initialize the object at

[edit] Return value

1-4) pointer to allocated memory area

5-6) ptr

[edit] Exceptions

1-2) throws std::bad_alloc on failure to allocate memory

3-6)

[edit] See also

operator delete operator delete[]	deallocation functions (function)
get_new_handler (C++11)	obtains the current new handler (function)
set_new_handler	registers a new handler (function)
get_temporary_buffer	obtains uninitialized storage (function)
malloc	allocates memory (function)