[JASS] Quick Function question.

[DistantHaze]

I'm pretty new to using takes/returns functions, so I have a silly question. In the proceeding function, does "trig_unit" need to be nulled?

function PlayerUnitDeathHero_RevivalTimerFunction takes unit trig_unit, integer trig_unitQ, integer R returns nothing
    local integer  n             = (udg_PlayerScore [trig_unitQ] / 2500) + R
    local real     m             = (I2R (n) * udg_RealArray [trig_unitQ + 200]) + udg_RealArray [trig_unitQ + 140]
    local unit     u             = CreateUnit (Player (trig_unitQ), 'hsor', GetUnitX (trig_unit), GetUnitY (trig_unit), 0.00)

    set udg_PlayerRezWait [trig_unitQ] = R2I (m)
    call UnitApplyTimedLife (u, 'BTLF', m)
    set u = null
endfunction

 

[PurgeandFire]

No it does not have to be nulled. The null "leak" where the handle ID does not get recycled is strictly with local variables as far as I know.

 

[Maker]

Nulling is done because you don't want to make a variable point to an object when you don't need to access the object anymore.

Variables hold information, the memory address of where data is. Nulling a variable is erasing that information, erasing the address.

With locals, we are creating them all the time as the code is run again and again. We can't allow unneeded data to pile up, therefore locals need to be nulled.

Globals do not need to be nulled since you are most likely going to be using the same variable again, making them point to other objects. The pointer information is overwritten.

 

[WaterKnight]

Function arguments are local variables too but for some reason, they are cleared up properly. The whole point of nullifying other local vars is only due to a glitch in Blizzard's engine.

 

[DistantHaze]

Thanks, fellas.