What are smart pointers and how do they handle circular references in C++?

What are smart pointers in C++?

Smart pointers are objects that manage the lifetime of dynamically allocated memory, ensuring proper resource management.

How do smart pointers handle circular references?

Circular references can lead to memory leaks. Using weak pointers can help break these cycles.

Can you give an example of using weak pointers?

Sure! In a circular reference scenario, you can use a weak pointer to reference an object without increasing its reference count.

What happens if I don't use smart pointers?

Without smart pointers, you risk memory leaks and dangling pointers, leading to undefined behavior in your program.