how to count the number of objects created in c++

Question

how to count the number of objects created in c++

pls explain with a simple example

Answer 1

update on code as opposed to "stefanB" solution, some variables are in protected access mode and will not be accessible.

template <typename T>
    struct counter
    {
        counter()
        {
            std::cout << "object created"<< endl;
            this->objects_created++;
            this->objects_alive++;
        }

        counter(const counter& test)
        {
            std::cout << "object created:" << test << endl;
             this->objects_created++;
             this->objects_alive++;
        }

        static int getObjectsAlive(){
            return objects_alive;
        }

        static int getObjectsCreated(){
            return objects_created;
        }


    protected:
        virtual ~counter()
        {
            std::cout << "object destroyed"<< endl;
            --objects_alive;
        }
        static int objects_created;
        static int objects_alive;
    };
    template <typename T> int counter<T>::objects_created( 0 );
    template <typename T> int counter<T>::objects_alive( 0 );

    class X : counter<X>
    {
        // ...
    };

    class Y : counter<Y>
    {
        // ...
    };
    
    Usage for completeness:
    
        int main()
        {
            X x1;
        
            {
                X x2;
                X x3;
                X x4;
                X x5;
                Y y1;
                Y y2;
            }   // objects gone
        
            Y y3;
         
    cout << "created: "
         << " X:" << counter<X>::getObjectsCreated()
         << " Y:" << counter<Y>::getObjectsCreated()  //well done
         << endl;

    cout << "alive: "
         << " X:" << counter<X>::getObjectsAlive()
         << " Y:" << counter<Y>::getObjectsAlive()
         << endl;
        }

Answer 2

Create template class with a static counter.

Each object in your application would then extend this template class.

When constructor is called increment static count (static variable is per class - shared by all objects of that class).

For example see Object Counter using Curiously recurring template pattern:

 template <typename T>
    struct counter
    {
        counter()
        {
            objects_created++;
            objects_alive++;
        }

        counter(const counter&)
        {
             objects_created++;
             objects_alive++;
        }   

    protected:
        virtual ~counter()
        {
            --objects_alive;
        }
        static int objects_created;
        static int objects_alive;
    };
    template <typename T> int counter<T>::objects_created( 0 );
    template <typename T> int counter<T>::objects_alive( 0 );

    class X : counter<X>
    {
        // ...
    };

    class Y : counter<Y>
    {
        // ...
    };

Usage for completeness:

    int main()
    {
        X x1;

        {
            X x2;
            X x3;
            X x4;
            X x5;
            Y y1;
            Y y2;
        }   // objects gone

        Y y3;

        cout << "created: "
             << " X:" << counter<X>::objects_created
             << " Y:" << counter<Y>::objects_created  //well done
             << endl;

        cout << "alive: "
             << " X:" << counter<X>::objects_alive
             << " Y:" << counter<Y>::objects_alive
             << endl;
    }

Output:

created:  X:5 Y:3
alive:  X:1 Y:1

Answer 3

template <class T>
class Counter
{
  private:
      static int count;
  public:
    Counter()
    {
       count++;
    }  
    Counter(const Counter &c)
    {
       count++;
    }   
    ~Counter()
    {
       count--;
    }    
    static int GetCount() {

         return count;
    }
}

template<class T> 
int Counter<T>::count = 0; 



class MyClass : private Counter<MyClass>
{
   public:
      using Counter<MyClass>::GetCount;
}

This technique is called CRTP

Answer 4

You have to overload the new and delete operators to count memory allocations.

void * operator new (size_t size)
{
    void * p = malloc (size);
    num_allocations++;
    return p;
}

void operator delete (void * p)
{
    num_deletions++;
    free (p);
}

Answer 5

You could create a counter variable into the public: of your class (assuming here you're talking about counting objects from a class you created)

class Widget {
public:
    Widget() { ++count; }
    Widget(const Widget&) { ++count; }
    ~Widget() { --count; }

    static size_t howMany()
    { return count; }

private:
    static size_t count;
};
// obligatory definition of count. This
// goes in an implementation file
size_t Widget::count = 0;

Taken from ddj.com

Answer 6

Number of objects for what? If you want to count the number of objects of a specific class, you can use a static counter. Something like below.. Increment counter on creation and decrement while destruction..

class A
{
  public:
    static int counter;
    A()
    {
      counter ++;
    }
    virtual ~A()
    {
      counter --;
    }
};

int A :: counter = 0;