std::unique_ptr<T,Deleter>::operator*, std::unique_ptr<T,Deleter>::operator->

typename std::add_lvalue_reference<T>::type operator() const noexcept(noexcept(std::declval<pointer>()));	(1)	(since C++11) (constexpr since C++23)
pointer operator->() const noexcept;	(2)	(since C++11) (constexpr since C++23)

operator* and operator-> provide access to the object owned by *this.

The behavior is undefined if get() == nullptr.

These member functions are only provided for unique_ptr for the single objects i.e. the primary template.

Parameters

(none)

Return value

1) Returns the object owned by *this, equivalent to *get().

2) Returns a pointer to the object owned by *this, i.e. get().

Exceptions

1) May throw if pointer has a throwing operator*.

Notes

The use of std::add_lvalue_reference is to make it possible to instantiate std::unique_ptr<void> since void& isn't allowed in C++ while std::add_lvalue_reference<void> produces void. See LWG673 for details.

Example

#include <iostream>
#include <memory>
 
struct Foo
{
    void bar() { std::cout << "Foo::bar\n"; }
};
 
void f(const Foo&) 
{
    std::cout << "f(const Foo&)\n";
}
 
int main() 
{
    std::unique_ptr<Foo> ptr(new Foo);
 
    ptr->bar();
    f(*ptr);
}

Output:

Foo::bar
f(const Foo&)

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 2762	C++11	`operator` might be potentially-throwing even if `get()` was noexcept	a conditional exception specification added