Does allocating memory and then releasing constitute a side effect in a C++ program?

Question

Inspired by this question about whether the compiler can optimize away a call to a function without side effects. Suppose I have the following code:

delete[]         


        

Answer 1

The compiler cannot see the implementation of delete[] and new[] and must assume it does.

If you had implemented delete[] and new[] above it, the compiler may inline / optimize away those functions entirely.