What are thread safety and smart pointers in C++11?

What are thread safety and smart pointers in C++11?

Thread safety in C++11 refers to the design of code that can safely be executed by multiple threads simultaneously. Smart pointers, like std::shared_ptr and std::unique_ptr, help manage memory automatically and ensure proper resource management.

How do smart pointers improve thread safety?

Smart pointers help prevent memory leaks and dangling pointers, which can lead to undefined behavior in multi-threaded environments. They ensure that resources are properly released when no longer needed, reducing the risk of race conditions.

Can you give an example of using smart pointers in a multi-threaded context?

Sure! Here's a simple example: you can use std::shared_ptr to share ownership of an object between threads. This way, multiple threads can access the same resource without worrying about manual memory management.

What are the differences between shared_ptr and unique_ptr?

std::unique_ptr provides exclusive ownership of an object, meaning only one unique_ptr can own it at a time. In contrast, std::shared_ptr allows multiple pointers to share ownership, with reference counting to manage the object's lifetime.