std::unique_ptr<T,Deleter>:: operator*, std::unique_ptr<T,Deleter>:: operator->

operator * and operator - > provide access to the object owned by * this .

These member functions are only provided for unique_ptr for the single objects i.e. the primary template.

If get ( ) is a null pointer, the behavior is undefined.

Return value

Exceptions

Notes

The use of std::add_lvalue_reference is to make it possible to instantiate std:: unique_ptr < void > since void & isn't allowed in C++ while std:: add_lvalue_reference < void > produces void . See LWG673 for details.

Example

#include <iostream>
#include <memory>
struct Foo
{
    void bar() { std::cout << "Foo::bar\n"; }
};
void f(const Foo&) 
{
    std::cout << "f(const Foo&)\n";
}
int main() 
{
    std::unique_ptr<Foo> ptr(new Foo);
    ptr->bar();
    f(*ptr);
}

Foo::bar
f(const Foo&)

Defect reports

The following behavior-changing defect reports were applied retroactively to previously published C++ standards.

See also