How to Handle 'Segmentation Fault' in C/C++ Applications

A 'Segmentation Fault' error in C/C++ occurs when a program tries to access memory that it is not allowed to, often due to incorrect memory addressing or pointer manipulation.

This error is commonly seen when dereferencing null or uninitialized pointers, accessing memory out of bounds, or using freed memory.

To fix this, start by reviewing your pointer operations to ensure they are correctly initialized and point to valid memory locations.

Tools like gdb can help you pinpoint where the segmentation fault occurs, making it easier to track down the issue.

Additionally, ensure that any memory allocated with malloc() or new is properly freed with free() or delete after use, and that you don't double-free memory or access freed memory.

Bounds checking is also crucial to prevent reading or writing outside the allocated memory space.

Using valgrind can help detect memory issues and improper memory access patterns.