What are some examples of using shared_ptr in C++?

Can you give me some examples of using shared_ptr in C++?

Sure! A shared_ptr is a smart pointer that retains shared ownership of an object through a pointer. Here's a simple example:

#include <iostream>
#include <memory>

int main() {
    std::shared_ptr<int> ptr1 = std::make_shared<int>(10);
    std::shared_ptr<int> ptr2 = ptr1; // ptr2 shares ownership with ptr1

    std::cout << "Value: " << *ptr1 << " and " << *ptr2 << std::endl;
    return 0;
}

What happens when the last shared_ptr goes out of scope?

When the last shared_ptr that owns the object goes out of scope, the object is automatically deleted, freeing the memory.

Can you explain the difference between shared_ptr and unique_ptr?

Certainly! A unique_ptr maintains exclusive ownership of an object, meaning no other unique_ptr can point to the same object. In contrast, shared_ptr allows multiple pointers to share ownership of the same object.

Are there any performance considerations when using shared_ptr?

Yes, shared_ptr has some overhead due to reference counting. If performance is critical and you don't need shared ownership, consider using unique_ptr instead.