[prog] C++ object creation

[Sue Stones]

On Wed, 28 May 2003 07:34, Kathryn Hogg wrote:
><...>
> If you have a variable declared in function, it will most likely be
> allocated on the stack for most modern machines.
><...>
> Allocating objects from the heap (aka via "new"), allows you to control
> their lifetime. They are not deallocated until you call "delete" on them.
> This is good when you need it but can lead to memory leaks if you lose
> track of pointer.

In part this answers the question that I am going to ask, but it also remids 
me that I don't have a full answer.

Could some one please explain what the heap is, and also compare it to the 
stack.  

There is no doubt that I learnt about them years ago, but I had a breack of 
nearly 10 years in my learning process, during which time I had no contact 
with computers.  Consequently I forgot some things, and the heap is something 
that I have totally forgoten!

Thanks

sue