What is a memory leak in software development?

A memory leak in software development occurs when a program allocates memory for its use but fails to release it back to the system after it is no longer needed. Over time, as the program continues to run and allocate more memory without releasing the previously allocated memory, this can lead to a situation where the system runs out of memory. This happens because the allocated memory blocks remain inaccessible to the program and the operating system, even though they are no longer in use. This is particularly problematic in long-running applications, as the program's memory usage can grow unchecked, potentially leading to slowdowns, crashes, or resource exhaustion.

Understanding memory management is crucial for developers. Proper management involves not just allocation but also deallocation, ensuring that resources are utilized efficiently. Unlike the options referring to the release of more memory or data corruption, memory leaks specifically focus on the failure to reclaim memory that is no longer needed, emphasizing the importance of disciplined memory handling in software design.