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      1 // Copyright (c) 2011 The Chromium Authors. All rights reserved.
      2 // Use of this source code is governed by a BSD-style license that can be
      3 // found in the LICENSE file.
      4 //
      5 // A "smart" pointer type with reference tracking.  Every pointer to a
      6 // particular object is kept on a circular linked list.  When the last pointer
      7 // to an object is destroyed or reassigned, the object is deleted.
      8 //
      9 // Used properly, this deletes the object when the last reference goes away.
     10 // There are several caveats:
     11 // - Like all reference counting schemes, cycles lead to leaks.
     12 // - Each smart pointer is actually two pointers (8 bytes instead of 4).
     13 // - Every time a pointer is released, the entire list of pointers to that
     14 //   object is traversed.  This class is therefore NOT SUITABLE when there
     15 //   will often be more than two or three pointers to a particular object.
     16 // - References are only tracked as long as linked_ptr<> objects are copied.
     17 //   If a linked_ptr<> is converted to a raw pointer and back, BAD THINGS
     18 //   will happen (double deletion).
     19 //
     20 // A good use of this class is storing object references in STL containers.
     21 // You can safely put linked_ptr<> in a vector<>.
     22 // Other uses may not be as good.
     23 //
     24 // Note: If you use an incomplete type with linked_ptr<>, the class
     25 // *containing* linked_ptr<> must have a constructor and destructor (even
     26 // if they do nothing!).
     27 //
     28 // Thread Safety:
     29 //   A linked_ptr is NOT thread safe. Copying a linked_ptr object is
     30 //   effectively a read-write operation.
     31 //
     32 // Alternative: to linked_ptr is shared_ptr, which
     33 //  - is also two pointers in size (8 bytes for 32 bit addresses)
     34 //  - is thread safe for copying and deletion
     35 //  - supports weak_ptrs
     36 
     37 #ifndef BASE_MEMORY_LINKED_PTR_H_
     38 #define BASE_MEMORY_LINKED_PTR_H_
     39 #pragma once
     40 
     41 #include "base/logging.h"  // for CHECK macros
     42 
     43 // This is used internally by all instances of linked_ptr<>.  It needs to be
     44 // a non-template class because different types of linked_ptr<> can refer to
     45 // the same object (linked_ptr<Superclass>(obj) vs linked_ptr<Subclass>(obj)).
     46 // So, it needs to be possible for different types of linked_ptr to participate
     47 // in the same circular linked list, so we need a single class type here.
     48 //
     49 // DO NOT USE THIS CLASS DIRECTLY YOURSELF.  Use linked_ptr<T>.
     50 class linked_ptr_internal {
     51  public:
     52   // Create a new circle that includes only this instance.
     53   void join_new() {
     54     next_ = this;
     55   }
     56 
     57   // Join an existing circle.
     58   void join(linked_ptr_internal const* ptr) {
     59     next_ = ptr->next_;
     60     ptr->next_ = this;
     61   }
     62 
     63   // Leave whatever circle we're part of.  Returns true iff we were the
     64   // last member of the circle.  Once this is done, you can join() another.
     65   bool depart() {
     66     if (next_ == this) return true;
     67     linked_ptr_internal const* p = next_;
     68     while (p->next_ != this) p = p->next_;
     69     p->next_ = next_;
     70     return false;
     71   }
     72 
     73  private:
     74   mutable linked_ptr_internal const* next_;
     75 };
     76 
     77 template <typename T>
     78 class linked_ptr {
     79  public:
     80   typedef T element_type;
     81 
     82   // Take over ownership of a raw pointer.  This should happen as soon as
     83   // possible after the object is created.
     84   explicit linked_ptr(T* ptr = NULL) { capture(ptr); }
     85   ~linked_ptr() { depart(); }
     86 
     87   // Copy an existing linked_ptr<>, adding ourselves to the list of references.
     88   template <typename U> linked_ptr(linked_ptr<U> const& ptr) { copy(&ptr); }
     89 
     90   linked_ptr(linked_ptr const& ptr) {
     91     DCHECK_NE(&ptr, this);
     92     copy(&ptr);
     93   }
     94 
     95   // Assignment releases the old value and acquires the new.
     96   template <typename U> linked_ptr& operator=(linked_ptr<U> const& ptr) {
     97     depart();
     98     copy(&ptr);
     99     return *this;
    100   }
    101 
    102   linked_ptr& operator=(linked_ptr const& ptr) {
    103     if (&ptr != this) {
    104       depart();
    105       copy(&ptr);
    106     }
    107     return *this;
    108   }
    109 
    110   // Smart pointer members.
    111   void reset(T* ptr = NULL) {
    112     depart();
    113     capture(ptr);
    114   }
    115   T* get() const { return value_; }
    116   T* operator->() const { return value_; }
    117   T& operator*() const { return *value_; }
    118   // Release ownership of the pointed object and returns it.
    119   // Sole ownership by this linked_ptr object is required.
    120   T* release() {
    121     bool last = link_.depart();
    122     CHECK(last);
    123     T* v = value_;
    124     value_ = NULL;
    125     return v;
    126   }
    127 
    128   bool operator==(const T* p) const { return value_ == p; }
    129   bool operator!=(const T* p) const { return value_ != p; }
    130   template <typename U>
    131   bool operator==(linked_ptr<U> const& ptr) const {
    132     return value_ == ptr.get();
    133   }
    134   template <typename U>
    135   bool operator!=(linked_ptr<U> const& ptr) const {
    136     return value_ != ptr.get();
    137   }
    138 
    139  private:
    140   template <typename U>
    141   friend class linked_ptr;
    142 
    143   T* value_;
    144   linked_ptr_internal link_;
    145 
    146   void depart() {
    147     if (link_.depart()) delete value_;
    148   }
    149 
    150   void capture(T* ptr) {
    151     value_ = ptr;
    152     link_.join_new();
    153   }
    154 
    155   template <typename U> void copy(linked_ptr<U> const* ptr) {
    156     value_ = ptr->get();
    157     if (value_)
    158       link_.join(&ptr->link_);
    159     else
    160       link_.join_new();
    161   }
    162 };
    163 
    164 template<typename T> inline
    165 bool operator==(T* ptr, const linked_ptr<T>& x) {
    166   return ptr == x.get();
    167 }
    168 
    169 template<typename T> inline
    170 bool operator!=(T* ptr, const linked_ptr<T>& x) {
    171   return ptr != x.get();
    172 }
    173 
    174 // A function to convert T* into linked_ptr<T>
    175 // Doing e.g. make_linked_ptr(new FooBarBaz<type>(arg)) is a shorter notation
    176 // for linked_ptr<FooBarBaz<type> >(new FooBarBaz<type>(arg))
    177 template <typename T>
    178 linked_ptr<T> make_linked_ptr(T* ptr) {
    179   return linked_ptr<T>(ptr);
    180 }
    181 
    182 #endif  // BASE_MEMORY_LINKED_PTR_H_
    183