C++ shared_ptr - attach to a new raw pointer?

Question

I think I'm missing something simple here. I'm using Boost's shared_ptr .

shared_ptr<Foo> pA(new Foo()); 
shared_ptr<Foo> pB(new Foo()); 

Now, I want to switch pB so it contains the contents of pA , decrementing the ref count of pB . How can I do this?

Answer 1

It's all done automatically:

pB = pA;  // pB ref count is decrement (in this case causing the value to be released)
          // pB is then made to point at the same value as pA
          // Thus incrementing the refCount.