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### 298. ::operator delete[] requirement incorrect/insufficient

Section: 17.6.3.3 [new.delete.array] Status: CD1 Submitter: John A. Pedretti Opened: 2001-01-10 Last modified: 2016-01-28

Priority: Not Prioritized

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Discussion:

The default behavior of `operator delete[]` described in 18.5.1.2, p12 - namely that for non-null value of ptr, the operator reclaims storage allocated by the earlier call to the default `operator new[]` - is not correct in all cases. Since the specified `operator new[]` default behavior is to call `operator new` (18.5.1.2, p4, p8), which can be replaced, along with `operator delete`, by the user, to implement their own memory management, the specified default behavior of`operator delete[]` must be to call `operator delete`.

Proposed resolution:

Change 18.5.1.2, p12 from

> -12- Default behavior:

> - For a null value of `ptr` , does nothing.
> - Any other value of `ptr` shall be a value returned earlier by a call to the default `operator new[](std::size_t)`. [Footnote: The value must not have been invalidated by an intervening call to `operator delete[](void*)` (16.4.5.9 [res.on.arguments]). --- end footnote] For such a non-null value of `ptr` , reclaims storage allocated by the earlier call to the default `operator new[]`.

to

> -12- Default behavior: Calls `operator delete(`ptr) or `operator delete(ptr, std::nothrow)` respectively.

and expunge paragraph 13.