CODEWITHSUNDEEP
c++c++11shared-ptratomicsmart-pointers
Collin Dauphinee
Collin Dauphinee

Reputation: 13973

Why is there no atomic_{store,load} for weak_ptr?

Why does the C++ standard include an atomic_store or atomic_load overload for shared_ptr, but not weak_ptr?

Is this just an oversight, or is there an actual reason for not providing atomic operations for weak_ptr?

Upvotes: 8

Views: 1568

Answers (2)

Massimiliano
Massimiliano

Reputation: 16980

This seems to be an oversight. There is a C++(17?) standard design proposal by Herb Sutter for atomic_shared_ptr/atomic_unique_ptr/atomic_weak_ptr, the document also explains the drawbacks of the existing approach with free funcitons atomic_load/atomic_store for shared_ptr: http://www.open-std.org/jtc1/sc22/wg21/docs/papers/2014/n4162.pdf

Upvotes: 3

Lily Ballard
Lily Ballard

Reputation: 185681

Presumably the answer is because, in order to use a weak_ptr, you first convert it to a shared_ptr using lock(). Once you have that shared_ptr you can use the atomic operations.

Upvotes: 1

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