What are some examples of circular references in C++?

What are some examples of circular references in C++?

Circular references occur when two or more objects reference each other, creating a loop. For example, if class A has a pointer to class B, and class B has a pointer back to class A, that's a circular reference.

Can you give me a code example of that?

Sure! Here's a simple example:

class B; // Forward declaration
class A {
public:
    B* b;
};
class B {
public:
    A* a;
};

In this code, class A has a pointer to class B, and class B has a pointer back to class A.

What problems can circular references cause?

Circular references can lead to memory leaks if not handled properly, as the objects may not be deallocated. They can also complicate the design and maintenance of the code.

How can I avoid circular references in my code?

You can avoid circular references by using smart pointers, such as std::weak_ptr, which allows you to break the cycle without losing access to the objects.