cpp-smart-pointers

Smart pointers automate memory management through RAII, automatically deallocating resources when they go out of scope. unique_ptr provides exclusive ownership with guaranteed cleanup, while shared_ptr uses reference counting to free memory only when the last owner releases it, eliminating manual delete calls and dangling pointers.

Use unique_ptr for exclusive ownership where only one object manages a resource's lifetime—it's lighter and faster. Use shared_ptr when multiple parts of code need concurrent access to the same resource; reference counting tracks ownership and deletes only when all references cease.

Yes. Custom deleters let you define resource-specific cleanup logic for unique_ptr and shared_ptr. This is essential for non-heap resources like file handles, database connections, or OS resources that require special finalization before deallocation.

weak_ptr is a non-owning observer of shared_ptr objects that doesn't increment the reference count. It breaks circular reference cycles—where two shared_ptrs reference each other—preventing memory leaks when shared ownership creates deadlock patterns.

Smart pointers support move semantics, transferring resource ownership without copying overhead. Moving a unique_ptr transfers exclusive ownership; moving a shared_ptr transfers the shared reference. This enables efficient resource handoff between functions and containers.