What are the differences between shared and weak pointers?

What are the differences between shared and weak pointers?

Shared pointers manage shared ownership of an object, while weak pointers do not own the object and prevent circular references.

Can you explain how shared pointers work in C++?

Sure! Shared pointers use reference counting to keep track of how many pointers point to the same object.

What happens when the last shared pointer is destroyed?

When the last shared pointer is destroyed, the managed object is automatically deleted, freeing the memory.

How do weak pointers help avoid memory leaks?

Weak pointers allow you to reference an object without increasing its reference count, preventing memory leaks from circular references.