Which Smart Pointer Should I Use in C ?

Smart Pointer Selection Algorithm

When choosing an appropriate smart pointer type, consider the following criteria:

Unique Ownership:

• Use std::unique_ptr: Provides exclusive ownership with specified deleter. Can be used in STL containers.

Shared Ownership:

• Use std::shared_ptr and std::weak_ptr: Allows multiple owners to share a resource. Weak pointers observe resources without affecting their lifetime.

No Ownership:

• Use raw pointers or references: For non-owning references when the resource outlives the referencing object. Use raw pointers for nullability or resettability.

Additional Considerations:

• Boost::intrusive_ptr: Lightweight option for resources with existing reference-counted management.
• Boost::scoped_array and std::unique_ptr: Array versions of scoped pointers.
• Deprecated: std::auto_ptr is deprecated in C 11.

Recommendation:

For most cases, std::unique_ptr should be the default choice for unique ownership. std::shared_ptr and std::weak_ptr are appropriate for shared ownership scenarios. Raw pointers and references can be used for non-owning relationships.

The above is the detailed content of Which Smart Pointer Should I Use in C ?. For more information, please follow other related articles on the PHP Chinese website!