Smart Pointer

Definitions

1. A data structure that wraps a raw pointer, providing automatic memory management through reference counting or ownership semantics, such as C++ unique_ptr, shared_ptr, or Rust's Box and Rc.

   In plain English: A wrapper around a memory address that automatically cleans up the memory when nobody needs it anymore, preventing leaks.

   Example: "Use std::unique_ptr instead of raw new/delete and you will never have a double-free again."

Related Terms

• Space Complexity
• Allocatable
• Borrowing
• Buffer
• Cache
• STL
• Native Module
• Reverse Iterator
• Slice
• Stack Unwinding
• Variable Shadowing
• Weak Pointer