Should I transfer ownerships between objects (passing arguments) using shared_ptr's?

[lucky6969b]

void Class1::Func(shared_ptr<type1> parameter)
{
}

or

void Class1::Func(const shared_ptr<type1>& parameter)
{
}

or

Should I ever pass arguments/parameters to other objects using shared_ptr's or raw pointers?
Thanks
Jack

[laserlight]

I would say that it depends on the situation. Do you have a specific use case in mind?

[lucky6969b]

Hi laserlight,
No, I don't. I just read a couple of articles on this. Some argued that it should be it and others not.
Thanks
Jack

[nuzzle]

When you pass around a raw pointer it's a matter of definition who owns it (and must delete it eventually). Not so when you assign a raw pointer to a shared_ptr and pass around the shared_ptr. Then the shared_ptr is the owner (and will delete the raw pointer eventually). That's the advantage of shared_ptrs over raw pointers, the question of ownership is crystal clear.

When it comes to the mode of passing a shared pointer, it's best to pass it by const reference. This avoids lots of incrementing/decrementing of the reference counter (the shared_ptr implementation uses internally).