Why map::clear doesn't call to the destructor ?

Question

I run to following program , note that the value of the map is a ref (ClassA&) -

#include <iostream>
#include <map>
using namespace std  ; 

class ClassA {
    public :
         ClassA () {    cout<<"Hay ! "<<endl ; }    
        ~ClassA () {    cout<<"Bye ! "<<endl ; }
} ; 

int main () { 
    map< string,ClassA& > myMap ; 
    ClassA a   ; 
    myMap.insert( pair<string,ClassA&>("A",a) ) ; 
    myMap.clear() ; 




}

And get output -

Hay ! 
Bye !

Seems like the myMap.clear() didn't affected cause there is no one more calling to ClassA destructor , can you explain me why ?

@Nick I tested on VS2012 and GCC4.3.4 both worked. http://ideone.com/OW3gd9 — billz, Dec 06 '12 at 08:57

score 8 · Accepted Answer · edited May 23 '17 at 10:34

8

Destructor is not called when a reference is deleted. Speaking of which.. I thought maps with references would be illegal

edited May 23 '17 at 10:34

Community

1
1

answered Dec 06 '12 at 08:54

Karthik T

31,456
5
68
87

Why map::clear doesn't call to the destructor ?

1 Answers1