Destructors
Destructors are special methods in object-oriented programming languages that are automatically invoked when an object is destroyed or goes out of scope. They are used to perform cleanup operations, such as releasing memory, closing files, or freeing other resources, to prevent memory leaks and ensure proper resource management. This concept is fundamental in languages like C++ and C#, where manual memory management is required.
Developers should learn about destructors when working with languages that involve manual resource management, such as C++ or C#, to avoid memory leaks and ensure efficient application performance. They are crucial in scenarios involving dynamic memory allocation, file handling, or network connections, where failing to release resources can lead to system instability or crashes. Understanding destructors is also important for implementing RAII (Resource Acquisition Is Initialization) patterns, which tie resource lifecycle to object lifetime.