What are shared pointers in C++ and how do I use them?

What are shared pointers in C++ and how do I use them?

Shared pointers are smart pointers that manage the lifetime of an object through reference counting. They allow multiple pointers to share ownership of an object.

Can you show me a simple example of using shared pointers?

Sure! Here's a basic example:

#include <iostream>
#include <memory>

int main() {
    std::shared_ptr<int> ptr1 = std::make_shared<int>(10);
    std::shared_ptr<int> ptr2 = ptr1; // ptr2 shares ownership of the same integer

    std::cout << "Value: " << *ptr1 << " Count: " << ptr1.use_count() << std::endl;
    return 0;
}

What happens when the last shared pointer goes out of scope?

When the last shared pointer goes out of scope, the reference count decreases. If it reaches zero, the managed object is automatically deleted.

Are there any downsides to using shared pointers?

Yes, shared pointers can introduce overhead due to reference counting and may lead to circular references if not managed properly.