Auto ptr

auto_ptr is a template class available in the C++ Standard Library (declared in ) that provides some basic RAII features for C++ raw pointers.

The auto_ptr template class describes an object that stores a pointer to an allocated object of type Type* that ensures that the object to which it points gets destroyed automatically when control leaves a scope. [cite web |url=http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ew3fk483.aspx |publisher=Microsoft |title=auto_ptr Class |accessdate=2006-09-27]

The shared_ptr template class proposed in Technical Report 1 and available in the Boost library can be used as an alternative to auto_ptr for collections with ownership semantics. [cite web |url=http://www.ddj.com/dept/cpp/184401839 |publisher=Dr. Dobb's |title=Collecting Shared Objects |date=2004-07-01 |accessdate=2006-09-27]

Declaration

The auto_ptr class is declared in ISO/IEC 14882, section 20.4.5 as:namespace std {

template struct auto_ptr_ref {};

template class auto_ptr { public: typedef X element_type;

// 20.4.5.1 construct/copy/destroy: explicit auto_ptr(X* p =0) throw(); auto_ptr(auto_ptr&) throw(); template auto_ptr(auto_ptr&) throw();

auto_ptr& operator=(auto_ptr&) throw(); template auto_ptr& operator=(auto_ptr&) throw(); auto_ptr& operator=(auto_ptr_ref r) throw();

~auto_ptr() throw();

// 20.4.5.2 members: X& operator*() const throw(); X* operator->() const throw(); X* get() const throw(); X* release() throw(); void reset(X* p =0) throw();

// 20.4.5.3 conversions: auto_ptr(auto_ptr_ref) throw(); template operator auto_ptr_ref() throw(); template operator auto_ptr() throw(); };

}

emantics

The auto_ptr has semantics of strict ownership, meaning that the auto_ptr instance is the sole entity responsible for the object's lifetime. If an auto_ptr is copied, the source loses the reference. For example:
#include using namespace std;

int *i = new int;auto_ptr x(i);auto_ptr y;

y = x;

cout << x.get() << endl;cout << y.get() << endl;This code will print a NULL address for the first auto_ptr object and some non-NULL address for the second, showing that the source object lost the reference during the assignment ("="). The raw pointer i in the example should not be deleted, as it will be deleted by the auto_ptr that owns the reference.

Notice that the object pointed by an auto_ptr is destructed using operator delete; this means that you should only use auto_ptr for pointers obtained with operator new. This excludes pointers returned by malloc/calloc/realloc and operator new [] .

ee also

* Smart pointer

References

External links

* [http://www.gotw.ca/publications/using_auto_ptr_effectively.htm Using auto_ptr effectively]
* [http://cprogramming.com/tutorial/auto_ptr.html Avoiding Memory Leaks with auto_ptr]
* Article " [http://gethelp.devx.com/techtips/cpp_pro/10min/10min1199.asp Using the auto_ptr Class Template to Facilitate Dynamic Memory Management] " by Danny Kalev
* Article " [http://codeproject.com/KB/cpp/COAP.aspx Container of auto_ptr] " by Zeeshan Amjad
* [http://gcc.gnu.org/onlinedocs/libstdc++/libstdc++-html-USERS-4.0/classstd_1_1auto__ptr.html auto_ptr Class Template Reference from GNU libstdc++]
* [http://www.roguewave.com/support/docs/sourcepro/edition9/html/stdlibref/auto-ptr.html auto_ptr reference from Rogue Wave]