NAME¶

std::weak_ptr - std::weak_ptr

Synopsis¶

Defined in header <memory>
template< class T > class weak_ptr; (since C++11)

std::weak_ptr is a smart pointer that holds a non-owning ("weak") reference to an
object that is managed by std::shared_ptr. It must be converted to std::shared_ptr
in order to access the referenced object.

std::weak_ptr models temporary ownership: when an object needs to be accessed only
if it exists, and it may be deleted at any time by someone else, std::weak_ptr is
used to track the object, and it is converted to std::shared_ptr to assume temporary
ownership. If the original std::shared_ptr is destroyed at this time, the object's
lifetime is extended until the temporary std::shared_ptr is destroyed as well.

Another use for std::weak_ptr is to break reference cycles formed by objects managed
by std::shared_ptr. If such cycle is orphaned (i.e., there are no outside shared
pointers into the cycle), the shared_ptr reference counts cannot reach zero and the
memory is leaked. To prevent this, one of the pointers in the cycle can be made
weak.

Member types¶

Member type Definition
element_type T (until C++17)
std::remove_extent_t<T> (since C++17)

Member functions¶

constructor creates a new weak_ptr
(public member function)
destructor destroys a weak_ptr
(public member function)
operator= assigns the weak_ptr
(public member function)

Modifiers¶

reset releases the ownership of the managed object
(public member function)
swap swaps the managed objects
(public member function)

Observers¶

use_count returns the number of shared_ptr objects that manage the object
(public member function)
expired checks whether the referenced object was already deleted
(public member function)
lock creates a shared_ptr that manages the referenced object
(public member function)
owner_before provides owner-based ordering of weak pointers
(public member function)
owner_hash provides owner-based hashing of weak pointers
(C++26) (public member function)
owner_equal provides owner-based equal comparison of weak pointers
(C++26) (public member function)

Non-member functions¶

std::swap(std::weak_ptr) specializes the std::swap algorithm
(C++11) (function template)

Helper classes¶

std::atomic<std::weak_ptr> atomic weak pointer
(C++20) (class template specialization)

Deduction guides (since C++17)

Notes¶

Like std::shared_ptr, a typical implementation of weak_ptr stores two pointers:

* a pointer to the control block; and
* the stored pointer of the shared_ptr it was constructed from.

A separate stored pointer is necessary to ensure that converting a shared_ptr to
weak_ptr and then back works correctly, even for aliased shared_ptrs. It is not
possible to access the stored pointer in a weak_ptr without locking it into a
shared_ptr.

Feature-test macro Value Std Feature
Enabling the use of std::weak_ptr
__cpp_lib_smart_ptr_owner_equality 202306L (C++26) as keys in unordered associative
containers

Example¶

Demonstrates how lock is used to ensure validity of the pointer.

// Run this code

#include <iostream>
#include <memory>

std::weak_ptr<int> gw;

void observe()
{
std::cout << "gw.use_count() == " << gw.use_count() << "; ";
// we have to make a copy of shared pointer before usage:
if (std::shared_ptr<int> spt = gw.lock())
std::cout << "*spt == " << *spt << '\n';
else
std::cout << "gw is expired\n";
}

int main()
{
{
auto sp = std::make_shared<int>(42);
gw = sp;

observe();
}

observe();
}

Output:¶

gw.use_count() == 1; *spt == 42
gw.use_count() == 0; gw is expired

Defect reports

The following behavior-changing defect reports were applied retroactively to
previously published C++ standards.

DR Applied to Behavior as published Correct behavior
LWG 3001 C++17 element_type was not updated for array support updated

See also¶

unique_ptr smart pointer with unique object ownership semantics
(C++11) (class template)
shared_ptr smart pointer with shared object ownership semantics
(C++11) (class template)