auto_ptr::release


member function
X* release() throw();

Release pointer

Sets the auto_ptr internal pointer to null pointer (which indicates it points to no object) without destructing the object currently pointed by the auto_ptr.

To force a destruction of the object pointed, use member function reset() instead.

The function returns a pointer to the object it pointed before the call, which is no longer its responsibility to destruct.

Parameters

none

Return value

A pointer to the element pointed by the auto_ptr object before the call. After the call, the internal pointer's value is the null pointer (points to no object).
X is auto_ptr's template parameter (i.e., the type pointed).


Example

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// auto_ptr::release example
#include <iostream>
#include <memory>
using namespace std;

int main () {
  auto_ptr<int> auto_pointer (new int);
  int * manual_pointer;

  *auto_pointer=10;

  manual_pointer = auto_pointer.release();

  cout << "manual_pointer points to " << *manual_pointer << "\n";
  // (auto_pointer is now null-pointer auto_ptr)

  delete manual_pointer; 

  return 0;
}


Output:

manual_pointer points to 10


See also

auto_ptr::reset Deallocate object pointed and set new value (public member function)
auto_ptr::get Get pointer (public member function)
auto_ptr::operator= Release and copy auto_ptr (public member function)