What are the differences between unique_ptr and shared_ptr in C++?

What are the differences between unique_ptr and shared_ptr in C++?

Unique pointers (unique_ptr) are exclusive ownership pointers, meaning only one unique_ptr can own a resource at a time. Shared pointers (shared_ptr), on the other hand, allow multiple pointers to share ownership of a resource, using reference counting to manage the resource's lifetime.

When should I use unique_ptr instead of shared_ptr?

You should use unique_ptr when you want sole ownership of a resource and want to avoid the overhead of reference counting. It's more efficient in terms of memory and performance.

Can you give an example of when to use shared_ptr?

Sure! Use shared_ptr when you have multiple owners of a resource, such as in a scenario where several objects need to access the same dynamically allocated memory.

What happens if I use shared_ptr incorrectly?

If used incorrectly, shared_ptr can lead to memory leaks or circular references, where two shared_ptr instances reference each other, preventing their memory from being freed.