NAME

std::unique_ptr::release - std::unique_ptr::release

Synopsis

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 deleting the object.

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 <memory>
#include <iostream>
#include <cassert>

struct Foo {
Foo() { std::cout << "Foo\n"; }
~Foo() { std::cout << "~Foo\n"; }
};

int main()
{
std::cout << "Creating new Foo...\n";
std::unique_ptr<Foo> up(new Foo());

std::cout << "About to release Foo...\n";
Foo* fp = up.release();

assert (up.get() == nullptr);
assert (up == nullptr);

std::cout << "Foo is no longer owned by unique_ptr...\n";

delete fp;
}

Output:

Creating new Foo...
Foo
About to release Foo...
Foo is no longer owned by unique_ptr...
~Foo

See also

get returns a pointer to the managed object
(public member function)
reset replaces the managed object
(public member function)