Week 3 of My C++ Learning Journey: Memory Management, OOP & STL

Overview

This week, I explored memory allocation, object-oriented programming (OOP), and the Standard Template Library (STL)—key concepts for writing efficient, modular, and scalable programs. Here's a breakdown of what I covered:

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Day 15: Memory Allocation & Static Members

🔹 Key Topics:

• Dynamic vs. static memory allocation in classes.
• Using arrays within a class.
• Static data members for memory optimization.

🛠 Practice Tasks:

✅ Shop Management System: Implement a class to store item data dynamically.

✅ Optimized Memory Usage: Modify the system using static members and methods.

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Day 16: Arrays of Objects & Object Passing

🔹 Key Topics:

• Managing multiple instances using arrays.
• Passing objects as function arguments.

🛠 Practice Tasks:

✅ Employee Management System: Store multiple employees using an object array.

✅ Complex Number Operations: Perform arithmetic using object parameters.

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Day 17-18: Friend Functions & Friend Classes

🔹 Key Topics:

• Accessing private members using friend functions.
• Sharing data between classes via friend classes.

🛠 Practice Tasks:

✅ Complex Number Addition: Implement a friend function to add two complex numbers.

✅ Swapping Private Data: Use a friend function to swap values between objects.

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Day 19-20: Constructors, Destructors & Inheritance

🔹 Key Topics:

• Default, parameterized, overloaded, and copy constructors.
• Destructor behavior and inheritance hierarchy.

🛠 Practice Tasks:

✅ Bank Deposit Calculator: Use constructors for interest calculation.

✅ Single Inheritance: Implement an Employee class inherited by Programmer.

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Day 21: STL & Advanced Concepts

🔹 Key Topics:

• Sorting (Merge Sort), Binary Search.
• Vectors, Pairs, Tuples, Maps, and Sets.

🛠 Practice Tasks:

✅ Sorting & Searching: Implement Merge Sort and Binary Search.

✅ STL Containers: Practice with Vectors, Maps, and Sets.

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Reflections & Next Steps

This week strengthened my grasp on memory management, OOP principles, and STL—all essential for real-world applications. Next, I’ll focus on advanced STL operations and design patterns.

💬 What’s your favorite STL feature? Drop your thoughts below! 🚀