Scope Guard
A scope guard is a programming idiom used to ensure that cleanup or rollback actions are executed automatically when a scope (such as a function or block) is exited, regardless of how the exit occurs (e.g., normal return, exception, early exit). It leverages RAII (Resource Acquisition Is Initialization) principles to manage resources safely and prevent resource leaks. This pattern is commonly implemented in languages like C++ using objects whose destructors run cleanup code, but the concept applies broadly to ensure deterministic resource management.
Developers should use scope guards to write exception-safe and robust code, especially in systems programming or applications handling critical resources like file handles, memory, or database connections. They are essential in C++ for avoiding manual cleanup errors and in other languages (via libraries or language features) to ensure resources are released even when errors occur, improving reliability and reducing bugs related to resource management.