What are weak pointers in C++?

Can you explain what weak pointers are in C++?

Weak pointers are a type of smart pointer in C++ that do not own the object they point to, preventing circular references.

How do weak pointers differ from shared pointers?

Shared pointers maintain a reference count to manage the lifetime of the object, while weak pointers do not affect the reference count.

When should I use weak pointers?

Use weak pointers when you want to observe an object managed by a shared pointer without extending its lifetime.

Can you give an example of using weak pointers?

Sure! Here's a simple example: std::shared_ptr<MyClass> sp = std::make_shared<MyClass>(); std::weak_ptr<MyClass> wp = sp; This allows wp to check if sp is still valid without owning it.