# std::weak_ptr<T>::weak_ptr

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< cpp‎ | memory‎ | weak ptr

constexpr weak_ptr() noexcept; | (1) | (since C++11)
weak_ptr( const weak_ptr& r ) noexcept; | (2) | (since C++11)
template< class Y > weak_ptr( const weak_ptr<Y>& r ) noexcept; | (2) | (since C++11)
template< class Y > weak_ptr( const std::shared_ptr<Y>& r ) noexcept; | (2) | (since C++11)
weak_ptr( weak_ptr&& r ) noexcept; | (3) | (since C++11)
template< class Y > weak_ptr( weak_ptr<Y>&& r ) noexcept; | (3) | (since C++11)

Constructs new `weak_ptr` that potentially shares an object with r.

1) Default constructor. Constructs empty `weak_ptr`.
2) Constructs new `weak_ptr` which shares an object managed by r. If r manages no object, *this manages no object too. The templated overloads don't participate in the overload resolution unless `Y*` is implicitly convertible to `T*`, or `Y` is the type "array of `N` `U`" for some type `U` and some number `N`, and `T` is the type "array of unknown bound of (possibly cv-qualified) `U`" (since C++17).
3) Move constructors. Moves a weak_ptr instance from r into *this. After this, r is empty and r.use_count() == 0. The templated overload doesn't participate in the overload resolution unless `Y*` is implicitly convertible to `T*`.

### Parameters

r | - | a std::shared_ptr or std::weak_ptr that will be viewed by this std::weak_ptr

### Notes

Because the default constructor is `constexpr`, static std::weak_ptrs are initialized as part of static non-local initialization, before any dynamic non-local initialization begins. This makes it safe to use a std::weak_ptr in a constructor of any static object.

### Example

Run this code

    #include <iostream>
    #include <memory>

    struct Foo {};

    int main()
    {
        std::weak_ptr<Foo> w_ptr;

        {
            auto ptr = std::make_shared<Foo>();
            w_ptr = ptr;
            std::cout << "w_ptr.use_count() inside scope: " << w_ptr.use_count() << '\n';
        }

        std::cout << "w_ptr.use_count() out of scope: " << w_ptr.use_count() << '\n';
        std::cout << "w_ptr.expired() out of scope: "
                  << std::boolalpha << w_ptr.expired() << '\n';
    }

Output:

    w_ptr.use_count() inside scope: 1
    w_ptr.use_count() out of scope: 0
    w_ptr.expired() out of scope: true

### Defect reports

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

DR | Applied to | Behavior as published | Correct behavior
--- | --- | --- | ---
LWG 2315 | C++11 | move semantic was not enabled for `weak_ptr` | enabled

### See also

operator= | assigns the `weak_ptr` (public member function)

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