What is the purpose of “::delete” in C++?
I'm currently looking at C++ code that uses ::delete to delete a pointer. A meaningless example of this is: void DoWork(ExampleClass* ptr) { ::delete ptr; } What is the purpose of using the delete keyword in this way? In some cases, the operator delete might be redefined -actually overloaded- (for example, your Class might define it and also define operator new). By coding ::delete you say that you are using the standard, "predefined", deletion operator. A typical use case for redefining both operator new and operator delete in some Class: you want to keep a hidden global set of all pointers created by your Class::operator new and deleted by your Class::operator delete. But the implementation of your delete will remove that pointer from the global set before calling the global ::delete This is using the delete expression, but with the optional :: prefix. Syntax ::(optional) delete expression (1) ... Destroys object(s) previously all...