Everything About ___
Live briefing

Everything about Smart pointer

Data type simulating a pointer with additional features

In computer science, a smart pointer is an abstract data type that simulates a pointer while providing added features, such as automatic memory management or bounds checking. Such features are intended to reduce bugs caused by the misuse of pointers, while retaining efficiency. Smart pointers typically keep track of the memory they point to, and may also be used to manage other resources, such as network connections and file handles. Smart pointers were first popularized in the programming language C++ during the first half of the 1990s as rebuttal to criticisms of C++'s lack of automatic garbage collection. Rust, which avoids raw pointers and uses ownership to dictate lifetimes, also has smart pointers. Wikipedia →

🧭 Start here: a 6-step reading path

  1. Read the overview: Smart pointerA 5-minute orientation
  2. Pick up a classic book: Modern Operating SystemsThe most-reprinted book on the subject
  3. Read the landmark paper: Development of Smart laser Pointer using Image ProcessingCited 0 times
  4. Go sideways: Destructor (computer programming)A closely related topic
  5. Go sideways: Auto ptrA closely related topic

📖 Definitions

Noun A form of pointer with additional features such as automatic memory management or bounds checking.

🗂️ The subject at a glance

  1. History
  2. Features
  3. Creating new objects
  4. Unique pointers
  5. Shared pointers and weak pointers
  6. Other types of smart pointers

🏆 Landmark papers (most cited)

📚 Books worth reading

Ranked by number of editions on Open Library, a rough measure of how lasting a book is.

🔗 Related topics