C++ Smart Pointers Writing a smart pointer: value_ptr
Example
A value_ptr is a smart pointer that behaves like a value. When copied, it copies its contents. When created, it creates its contents.
// Like std::default_delete:
template<class T>
struct default_copier {
// a copier must handle a null T const* in and return null:
T* operator()(T const* tin)const {
if (!tin) return nullptr;
return new T(*tin);
}
void operator()(void* dest, T const* tin)const {
if (!tin) return;
return new(dest) T(*tin);
}
};
// tag class to handle empty case:
struct empty_ptr_t {};
constexpr empty_ptr_t empty_ptr{};
// the value pointer type itself:
template<class T, class Copier=default_copier<T>, class Deleter=std::default_delete<T>,
class Base=std::unique_ptr<T, Deleter>
>
struct value_ptr:Base, private Copier {
using copier_type=Copier;
// also typedefs from unique_ptr
using Base::Base;
value_ptr( T const& t ):
Base( std::make_unique<T>(t) ),
Copier()
{}
value_ptr( T && t ):
Base( std::make_unique<T>(std::move(t)) ),
Copier()
{}
// almost-never-empty:
value_ptr():
Base( std::make_unique<T>() ),
Copier()
{}
value_ptr( empty_ptr_t ) {}
value_ptr( Base b, Copier c={} ):
Base(std::move(b)),
Copier(std::move(c))
{}
Copier const& get_copier() const {
return *this;
}
value_ptr clone() const {
return {
Base(
get_copier()(this->get()),
this->get_deleter()
),
get_copier()
};
}
value_ptr(value_ptr&&)=default;
value_ptr& operator=(value_ptr&&)=default;
value_ptr(value_ptr const& o):value_ptr(o.clone()) {}
value_ptr& operator=(value_ptr const&o) {
if (o && *this) {
// if we are both non-null, assign contents:
**this = *o;
} else {
// otherwise, assign a clone (which could itself be null):
*this = o.clone();
}
return *this;
}
value_ptr& operator=( T const& t ) {
if (*this) {
**this = t;
} else {
*this = value_ptr(t);
}
return *this;
}
value_ptr& operator=( T && t ) {
if (*this) {
**this = std::move(t);
} else {
*this = value_ptr(std::move(t));
}
return *this;
}
T& get() { return **this; }
T const& get() const { return **this; }
T* get_pointer() {
if (!*this) return nullptr;
return std::addressof(get());
}
T const* get_pointer() const {
if (!*this) return nullptr;
return std::addressof(get());
}
// operator-> from unique_ptr
};
template<class T, class...Args>
value_ptr<T> make_value_ptr( Args&&... args ) {
return {std::make_unique<T>(std::forward<Args>(args)...)};
}
This particular value_ptr is only empty if you construct it with empty_ptr_t or if you move from it. It exposes the fact it is a unique_ptr, so explicit operator bool() const works on it. .get() has been changed to return a reference (as it is almost never empty), and .get_pointer() returns a pointer instead.
This smart pointer can be useful for pImpl cases, where we want value-semantics but we also don't want to expose the contents of the pImpl outside of the implementation file.
With a non-default Copier, it can even handle virtual base classes that know how to produce instances of their derived and turn them into value-types.
