What is a shared pointer in C++?

What is a shared pointer in C++?

A shared pointer is a smart pointer that retains shared ownership of an object through a pointer. Multiple shared pointers can point to the same object.

How does it manage memory automatically?

It uses reference counting to keep track of how many shared pointers point to the same object. When the last shared pointer is destroyed, the object is automatically deleted.

Can you give me an example of using shared pointers?

Sure! 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;
    std::cout << *ptr1 << " " << *ptr2 << std::endl;
    return 0;
}