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

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.

(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)

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