title: What are managed types? Are they specific to Delphi? Are they specific to Windows?
body: <p><strong>Summarization:</strong></p>
  
  <p>Please check the knowledgeable comments below.</p>
  
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  <p>I have seen the term of <code>managed types</code>  mentioned in quite a few stackoverflow Delphi topics. For example, it is mentioned in topics of <code>correctly initializing/finalizing</code>. However, when I google <code>managed types</code>, it seems most links are related to C++, or .NET. For example, see the <a href="http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms384241(v=vs.71).aspx" rel="nofollow noreferrer">MSDN page</a>.  Could some one help to comment what are managed types defined in Delphi? Given that Delphi for POSIX/MacOS is being born, are managed types specific to Windows? Thanks for your effort and time in advance!  </p>
  
  <p>PS: Topics of <code>correctly initializing/finalizing</code>:<br>
  <a href="https://stackoverflow.com/questions/861045/which-variables-are-initialized-when-in-delphi/861178#861178">Which variables are initialized when in Delphi?</a><br>
  <a href="https://stackoverflow.com/questions/132725/are-delphi-variables-initialized-with-a-value-by-default">Are delphi variables initialized with a value by default?</a><br>
  <a href="https://stackoverflow.com/questions/544075/how-should-i-free-an-array-of-objects-in-a-delphi-7-destructor">How should I free an array of objects in a Delphi 7 destructor?</a><br>
  <a href="https://stackoverflow.com/questions/897371/in-delphi-2009-do-i-need-to-free-variant-arrays">In Delphi 2009 do I need to free variant arrays?</a></p>