pointer data

[Marcusw1]

when I reassign pointer-a to other data in memory, what happens to the data pointer-a was originally pointing at.
I'm asking because I am implementing some data structure methods using general algorithms for doing so, but I am a little concerned about some parts.


for example: here I am worried that I am not deleting the temp_list, I understand that list will be the one pointing at that data from now on and the data will get cleaned up by the destructor. But then what happens to the data list was orginally pointing at, is this going to leave random allocations in memory just floating around every function call?

Also I was taught that you should always delete anytime you use new but if I try to delete temp_list after I assign the old list the new values , I will get an error. Should I be trying to delete temp_list or is it okay to leave it?

void ArrayList::add_front(int element){

   	//create new array, initialize first index
   	int* temp_list = new int [list_size+1];
   	temp_list[0] = element;
   	
   	//fill rest of new array
   	  for(int i = 0; i < list_size; i++){
   	    temp_list[i+1] = list[i];
   	  }

   	 //update class list to equal new array
   	 list_size++;
   	 list = temp_list;
 return;
}

[JayhawkZombie]

If you make a pointer point somewhere else, you will lose the old address. It's gone.

As long as something it pointing to it, you can still reference it. If you make a pointer point to something else without saving the old address, then it's gone for good. And with that comes a lovely little memory leak.

[Marcusw1]

so should I use the delete operator on list before I assign it the new value of temp_list?