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### 2434. `shared_ptr::use_count()` is efficient

Section: 20.11.3.6 [util.smartptr.shared.obs] Status: C++17 Submitter: Stephan T. Lavavej Opened: 2014-10-01 Last modified: 2017-07-30

Priority: 0

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Discussion:

`shared_ptr` and `weak_ptr` have Notes that their `use_count()` might be inefficient. This is an attempt to acknowledge reflinked implementations (which can be used by Loki smart pointers, for example). However, there aren't any `shared_ptr` implementations that use reflinking, especially after C++11 recognized the existence of multithreading. Everyone uses atomic refcounts, so `use_count()` is just an atomic load.

[Urbana 2014-11-07: Move to Ready]

Proposed resolution:

This wording is relative to N3936.

1. Change 20.11.3.6 [util.smartptr.shared.obs] p7-p10 as depicted:

   >     long use_count() const noexcept;

   > > -7- Returns: the number of `shared_ptr` objects, `*this` included, that share ownership with `*this`, or 0 when `*this` is empty.

   > > -8- [Note: `use_count()` is not necessarily efficient. — end note]

   >     bool unique() const noexcept;

   > > -9- Returns: `use_count() == 1`.

   > > -10- [Note: `unique()` may be faster than `use_count()`. If you are using `unique()` to implement copy on write, do not rely on a specific value when `get() == 0`. — end note]

2. Change 20.11.4.6 [util.smartptr.weak.obs] p1-p4 as depicted:

   >     long use_count() const noexcept;

   > > -1- Returns: 0 if `*this` is empty; otherwise, the number of `shared_ptr` instances that share ownership with `*this`.

   > > -2- [Note: `use_count()` is not necessarily efficient. — end note]

   >     bool expired() const noexcept;

   > > -3- Returns: `use_count() == 0`.

   > > -4- [Note: `expired()` may be faster than `use_count()`. — end note]