Weak Pointers with std::weak_ptr

A full guide to weak pointers, using std::weak_ptr. Learn what they're for, and how we can use them with practical examples

Ryan McCombe
Updated
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Questions & Answers

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Detecting Expired Weak Pointers
How can I check if a weak pointer has expired before using it?
Creating a Shared Pointer from a Weak Pointer
How do I create a shared pointer from a weak pointer to access the pointed-to object?
Performance Impact of Weak Pointers
Do weak pointers have any performance overhead compared to raw pointers?
Using Weak Pointers in Multithreaded Environments
Are weak pointers thread-safe? How can I use them safely in multithreaded code?
Storing Weak Pointers in Containers
Can I store weak pointers in containers like std::vector or std::map?
Using Custom Deleters with Weak Pointers
Can I use custom deleters with weak pointers like I can with unique_ptr and shared_ptr?