What is a memory leak in computer programming, and how can it be prevented?

Database System Concepts
7th Edition
ISBN:9780078022159
Author:Abraham Silberschatz Professor, Henry F. Korth, S. Sudarshan
Publisher:Abraham Silberschatz Professor, Henry F. Korth, S. Sudarshan
Chapter1: Introduction
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What is a memory leak in computer programming, and how can it be prevented?
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When programmers add memory to a heap without deleting it, a memory leak results.

Because there is less memory available, memory leaks have the effect of lowering computer performance. In the worst case scenario, eventually too much of the available memory may be allocated, causing the system or device to malfunction entirely or partially, the programme to crash, or the system to significantly slow down.

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