# dealloc Deallocates the memory occupied by the receiver. ``` - (void) dealloc; ``` ## Discussion Subsequent messages to the receiver may generate an error indicating that a message was sent to a deallocated object (provided the deallocated memory hasn’t been reused yet). You override this method to dispose of resources other than the object’s instance variables, for example: ```objc - (void)dealloc { free(myBigBlockOfMemory); } ``` In an implementation of `dealloc`, do not invoke the superclass’s implementation. You should try to avoid managing the lifetime of limited resources such as file descriptors using `dealloc`. You never send a [`dealloc`](/documentation/ObjectiveC/NSObject-swift.class/dealloc) message directly. Instead, an object’s `dealloc` method is invoked by the runtime. See [Advanced Memory Management Programming Guide](https://developer.apple.com/library/archive/documentation/Cocoa/Conceptual/MemoryMgmt/Articles/MemoryMgmt.html#//apple_ref/doc/uid/10000011i) for more details. ### Special Considerations When not using ARC, your implementation of `dealloc` must invoke the superclass’s implementation as its last instruction. --- Copyright © 2026 Apple Inc. All rights reserved. | [Terms of Use](https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/terms/site.html) | [Privacy Policy](https://www.apple.com/privacy/privacy-policy)