Sample C++ code to illustrate usage of std::shared_ptr

how_to_use_shared_ptr.cpp

// Sample C++ code to illustrate usage of std::shared_ptr
// Compile with --std=c++11 option

#include <iostream>
#include <memory>

class Foo
{
    public:

    Foo() : x_(0), y_(0)
    {
        std::cout << "Default constructor\n";
    }

    Foo(int x, int y) : x_(x), y_(y)
    {
        std::cout << "Constructor with 2 args\n";
    }

    ~Foo()
    {
        std::cout << "Object being destroyed!\n";
    }

    int get_y() { return y_; }

    int x_;
    int y_;
};

typedef std::shared_ptr<Foo> FooPtr;

int main()
{
    // Initialized to nullptr
    FooPtr p;

    // Check pointer for nullptr
    if (!p)
        std::cout << "Pointer is nullptr\n";

    // Dynamically allocate object of type Foo
    // using default constructor of Foo
    p = std::make_shared<Foo>();

    // Check pointer for valid object
    if (p)
        std::cout << "Pointer points to object\n";

    // Allocate another object with 2-arg constructor
    // Note: Old object is destroyed
    p = std::make_shared<Foo>(10, 20);

    // Access members and functions of object
    std::cout << "Member: " << p->x_ << std::endl;
    std::cout << "Method: " << p->get_y() << std::endl;

    // Dereference object using *
    std::cout << "Value: " << (*p).y_ << std::endl;

    // Assign pointers to one another
    // Note: Now reference count for this object will be 2
    FooPtr q;
    q = p;

    // Number of pointers pointing to same object
    std::cout << "Reference count: " << q.use_count() << std::endl;

    return 0;
}

/*
The output of this program is:
$ ./a.out 
Pointer is nullptr
Default constructor
Pointer points to object
Constructor with 2 args
Object being destroyed!
Member: 10
Method: 20
Value: 20
Reference count: 2
Object being destroyed!
*/