What is a memory leak?

A memory leak occurs when a program allocates memory for its use but fails to release that memory back to the system after it is no longer needed. This situation leads to a gradual increase in the amount of memory consumed by a program, which can eventually cause the system to run out of available memory resources. Over time, this can result in decreased performance, system instability, or even crashes, as the system struggles to manage memory that is no longer actively being utilized by the application.

Addressing memory leaks typically involves identifying and modifying the code to ensure that all allocated resources are properly de-allocated when they are no longer necessary. This concept is critical in software development as it ensures the efficient use of system resources and maintains optimal performance.