How does shared_ptr affect performance in C++?

How does using shared_ptr in C++ affect performance compared to raw pointers?

Using shared_ptr can simplify memory management but may introduce overhead due to reference counting.

What kind of overhead are we talking about?

The overhead includes additional memory for the control block and the cost of atomic operations for reference counting.

Are there scenarios where raw pointers would be better?

Yes, in performance-critical sections where you need minimal overhead, raw pointers can be more efficient.

What about thread safety with shared_ptr?

shared_ptr is thread-safe for different instances, but the same instance should not be accessed concurrently without synchronization.