Sams Teach Yourself C++ in One Hour a Day, 9th Edition

Lesson 26

Understanding Smart Pointers

C++ programmers do not necessarily need to use plain pointer types when managing memory on the heap (or the free store); they can make use of smart pointers.

In this lesson, you learn

• ■   What smart pointers are and why you need them

• ■   How smart pointers are implemented

• ■   Different smart pointer types

• ■   Why you should not use the deprecated std::auto_ptr

• ■   The C++ Standard Library smart pointer std::unique_ptr

• ■   Popular smart pointer libraries

What Are Smart Pointers?

Put simply, a smart pointer is a class that uses overloaded operators to help you use it like a conventional pointer. However, it adds value by ensuring proper and timely destruction of dynamically allocated data and facilitates ...