Stack, Static, and Heap in C++

Question

I\'ve searched, but I\'ve not understood very well these three concepts. When do I have to use dynamic allocation (in the heap) and what\'s its real advantage? What are the

Answer 1

It's been said elaborately, just as "the short answer":

• static variable (class)
  lifetime = program runtime (1)
  visibility = determined by access modifiers (private/protected/public)

• static variable (global scope)
  lifetime = program runtime (1)
  visibility = the compilation unit it is instantiated in (2)

• heap variable
  lifetime = defined by you (new to delete)
  visibility = defined by you (whatever you assign the pointer to)

• stack variable
  visibility = from declaration until scope is exited
  lifetime = from declaration until declaring scope is exited

---

(1) more exactly: from initialization until deinitialization of the compilation unit (i.e. C / C++ file). Order of initialization of compilation units is not defined by the standard.

(2) Beware: if you instantiate a static variable in a header, each compilation unit gets its own copy.