---
title: "memory leak"
description: " A memory access failure due to a defect in a program's dynamic store allocation logic that causes it to fail to release memory after it has finished using it, eventually causing the program and/or other concurrent processes to fail due to lack of memory."
type: term
term_id: 306
language: English
language_code: gb
canonical: "https://glossary.istqb.org/en/term/memory-leak-3"
slug: "memory-leak"
url: "https://istqb-glossary.page/memory-leak/"
---

# memory leak

 A memory access failure due to a defect in a program's dynamic store allocation logic that causes it to fail to release memory after it has finished using it, eventually causing the program and/or other concurrent processes to fail due to lack of memory.

## Present in syllabi


- Advanced Technical Test Analyst 2012
- Foundation 2018
- Foundation Extension - Automotive Software Tester 2018
- Foundation Extension - Performance Testing 2018
- Foundation Extension - Gambling Industry Tester 2018

## Translations


- [Deutsch](https://istqb-glossary.page/de/memory-leak/) — memory leak
- [Deutsch](https://istqb-glossary.page/de/speicherleck/) — Speicherleck
- [Português (Brasil)](https://istqb-glossary.page/br/vazamento-de-memoria/) — vazamento de memória
- [Polski](https://istqb-glossary.page/pl/wyciek-pamieci/) — wyciek pamięci
- [Português](https://istqb-glossary.page/pt/memoria-perdida/) — memória perdida
- [Čeština](https://istqb-glossary.page/cz/unik-pameti/) — únik paměti
- [Dansk](https://istqb-glossary.page/dk/memory-leak/) — memory leak
- [Nederlands](https://istqb-glossary.page/nl/geheugenlek/) — geheugenlek
- [Norsk](https://istqb-glossary.page/no/minnelekkasje/) — minnelekkasje

Read this term online: https://istqb-glossary.page/memory-leak/

Markdown variant of the HTML page at https://istqb-glossary.page/memory-leak/ — part of the
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republication of the ISTQB glossary under fair use. No affiliation with ISTQB.