Exploring C++20: The Programmer's Introduction to C++

© Ray Lischner 2020

R. LischnerExploring C++20https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4842-5961-0_65

65. Smart Pointers

Ray Lischner¹ 

(1)

Ellicott City, MD, USA

 

One challenge that I have glossed over with respect to pointers is the inherent danger in their use. The map that holds all of the artifact objects must outlive all uses of artifact pointers in the program. So far, this has not been a problem, but as the program grows in size and complexity, the bookkeeping involved may obscure how pointers are used. So let’s explore a slight change to the program to ensure that no matter how the program evolves, all the pointers will be safe to use. This Exploration takes a closer look at pointers, their problems, and how to avoid them.

Pointers and Iterators

Perhaps ...