Questions tagged [pseudo-destructor]

In C++, non-class types, such as int, do not have a destructor. However, the compiler will generate an empty (no-op) psuedo-destructor should such a call be necessary for the implementation of a template or in other cases where the type of a variable may not necessarily be known (e.g. external typedef).

For example, both calls to foo in the following program would be valid:

#include <vector>

template <typename T>
void foo()
{
    T x;
    // explicitly call destructor
    x.~T();
}

int main()
{
    foo<int>();
    foo< std::vector<int> >();
}

This is true despite the fact that no destructive action will be taken on the int.