1 files changed, 59 insertions, 4 deletions
diff --git a/c++.html.markdown b/c++.html.markdown
index 80ad3a6c..f3dc8e20 100644
--- a/c++.html.markdown
+++ b/c++.html.markdown
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ void func(); // function which may accept any number of arguments
 int* ip = nullptr;
 
 // C standard headers are available in C++.
-// C headers end in .h, while 
+// C headers end in .h, while
 // C++ headers are prefixed with "c" and have no ".h" suffix.
 
 // The C++ standard version:
@@ -553,10 +553,14 @@ Point Point::operator+(const Point& rhs) const
     return Point(x + rhs.x, y + rhs.y);
 }
 
+// It's good practice to return a reference to the leftmost variable of
+// an assignment. `(a += b) == c` will work this way.
 Point& Point::operator+=(const Point& rhs)
 {
     x += rhs.x;
     y += rhs.y;
+    
+    // `this` is a pointer to the object, on which a method is called.
     return *this;
 }
 
@@ -757,7 +761,7 @@ failure:
 // things are a little cleaner, but still sub-optimal.
 void doSomethingWithAFile(const char* filename)
 {
-    FILE* fh = fopen(filename, "r"); // Open the file in read mode
+    FILE* fh = fopen(filename, "r"); // Open the file in shared_ptrread mode
     if (fh == nullptr)
         throw std::runtime_error("Could not open the file.");
 
@@ -811,6 +815,57 @@ void doSomethingWithAFile(const std::string& filename)
 
 
 /////////////////////
+// Smart Pointer
+/////////////////////
+
+// Generally a smart pointer is a class which wraps a "raw pointer" (usage of "new"
+// respectively malloc/calloc in C). The goal is to be able to
+// manage the lifetime of the object being pointed to without ever needing to explicitly delete 
+// the object. The term itself simply describes a set of pointers with the
+// mentioned abstraction.
+// Smart pointers should preferred over raw pointers, to prevent
+// risky memory leaks, which happen if you forget to delete an object.
+
+// Usage of a raw pointer:
+Dog* ptr = new Dog();
+ptr->bark();
+delete ptr;
+
+// By using a smart pointer, you don't have to worry about the deletion
+// of the object anymore.
+// A smart pointer describes a policy, to count the references to the
+// pointer. The object gets destroyed when the last
+// reference to the object gets destroyed.
+
+// Usage of "std::shared_ptr":
+void foo()
+{
+// It's no longer necessary to delete the Dog.
+std::shared_ptr<Dog> doggo(new Dog());
+doggo->bark();
+}
+
+// Beware of possible circular references!!!
+// There will be always a reference, so it will be never destroyed!
+std::shared_ptr<Dog> doggo_one(new Dog());
+std::shared_ptr<Dog> doggo_two(new Dog());
+doggo_one = doggo_two; // p1 references p2
+doggo_two = doggo_one; // p2 references p1
+
+// There are several kinds of smart pointers. 
+// The way you have to use them is always the same.
+// This leads us to the question: when should we use each kind of smart pointer?
+// std::unique_ptr - use it when you just want to hold one reference to
+// the object.
+// std::shared_ptr - use it when you want to hold multiple references to the
+// same object and want to make sure that it's deallocated
+// when all references are gone.
+// std::weak_ptr - use it when you want to access
+// the underlying object of a std::shared_ptr without causing that object to stay allocated.
+// Weak pointers are used to prevent circular referencing.
+
+
+/////////////////////
 // Containers
 /////////////////////
 
@@ -873,7 +928,7 @@ cout << ST.size();  // will print the size of set ST
 // Output: 0
 
 // NOTE: for duplicate elements we can use multiset
-// NOTE: For hash sets, use unordered_set. They are more efficient but 
+// NOTE: For hash sets, use unordered_set. They are more efficient but
 // do not preserve order. unordered_set is available since C++11
 
 // Map
@@ -902,7 +957,7 @@ cout << it->second;
 
 // Output: 26
 
-// NOTE: For hash maps, use unordered_map. They are more efficient but do 
+// NOTE: For hash maps, use unordered_map. They are more efficient but do
 // not preserve order. unordered_map is available since C++11.
 
 // Containers with object keys of non-primitive values (custom classes) require