std::shared_ptr::operator*, std::shared_ptr::operator->

From cppreference.com
< cpp‎ | memory‎ | shared ptr
 
 
 
Dynamic memory management
Uninitialized storage
(C++17)
(deprecated since c++17)
(deprecated since c++17)
(deprecated since c++17)
Garbage collection support
Miscellaneous
(C++11)
(C++11)
C Library
Low level memory management
 
 
T& operator*() const;
(1) (since C++11)
T* operator->() const;
(2) (since C++11)

Dereferences the stored pointer. The behavior is undefined if the stored pointer is null.

Parameters

(none)

Return value

1) The result of dereferencing the stored pointer, i.e., *get()
2) The stored pointer, i.e., get()

Exceptions

noexcept specification:  
noexcept
  

Remarks

When T is a (possibly cv-qualified) void, it is unspecified whether function (1) is declared.

When T is an array type, it is unspecified whether these member functions are declared, and if they are, what their return type is, except that the declaration (not necessarily the definition) of these functions is well-formed. (since C++17)

If either function is declared despite being unspecified, it is unspecified what its return type is, except that the declaration (although not necessarily the definition) of the function is guaranteed to be legal. This makes it possible to instantiate std::shared_ptr<void>.

Example

#include <iostream>
#include <memory>
 
struct Foo
{
   Foo(int in) : a(in) {}
   void print() const
   {
      std::cout << "a = " << a << '\n';
   }
   int a;
};
 
int main()
{
   auto ptr = std::make_shared<Foo>(10);
   ptr->print();
   (*ptr).print();
}

Output:

a = 10
a = 10

See also

returns the stored pointer
(public member function)