std::unique_ptr<T,Deleter>::release

 

C++

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std::unique_ptr

Member functions

unique_ptr::unique_ptr

unique_ptr::~unique_ptr

unique_ptr::operator=

Modifiers

unique_ptr::release

unique_ptr::reset

unique_ptr::swap

Observers

unique_ptr::get

unique_ptr::get_deleter

unique_ptr::operator bool

unique_ptr::operator*unique_ptr::operator->

unique_ptr::operator[]

Non-member functions

make_uniquemake_unique_for_overwrite (C++14)(C++20)

operator==operator!=operator<operator>operator<=operator>=operator<=> (until C++20)(C++20)

operator<< (C++20)

swap(std::unique_ptr)

Helper classes

hash<std::unique_ptr>

 

pointer release() noexcept;		(since C++11) (constexpr since C++23)

Releases the ownership of the managed object, if any.

get() returns nullptr after the call.

The caller is responsible for cleaning up the object (e.g. by use of get_deleter()).

Parameters

(none)

Return value

Pointer to the managed object or nullptr if there was no managed object, i.e. the value which would be returned by get() before the call.

Example

Run this code

#include <cassert>
#include <iostream>
#include <memory>
 
struct Foo
{
    Foo() { std::cout << "Foo\n"; }
    ~Foo() { std::cout << "~Foo\n"; }
};
 
// Ownership of the Foo resource is transferred when calling this function
void legacy_api(Foo* owning_foo)
{
    std::cout << __func__ << '\n';
    // [legacy code that no one understands or dares touch anymore]
    // [...]
    delete owning_foo;
}
 
int main()
{
    std::unique_ptr<Foo> managed_foo(new Foo);
    // [code that might return or throw or some such]
    // [...]
    legacy_api(managed_foo.release());
 
    assert(managed_foo == nullptr);
}

Output:

Foo
legacy_api
~Foo

See also

get	returns a pointer to the managed object (public member function)
get_deleter	returns the deleter that is used for destruction of the managed object (public member function)
reset	replaces the managed object (public member function)