RAII

Definitions

1. Resource Acquisition Is Initialization — a C++ idiom where resource ownership is tied to object lifetime. Resources (memory, file handles, locks) are acquired in a constructor and released in the destructor, guaranteeing cleanup even when exceptions occur. The worst-named best idea in C++.

   In plain English: A C++ pattern where opening a resource and cleaning it up are automatic: the moment you create an object it grabs the resource, and the moment it disappears the resource is released.

   Example: "With RAII, the mutex lock is released when the guard object goes out of scope — no manual unlock, no forgotten cleanup."

Related Terms

• Allocator
• ARC
• Autofree
• Destructor
• Header File
• Reference Counting
• STL
• Native Module
• Resource Acquisition Is Initialization
• Reverse Iterator
• Weak Pointer