Objects that encapsulate C++ pointers. They are a very powerful concept that can provide many features over standard pointers include safety in dereferencing. A smart pointer is accessed using the dereference operator (-).

In computer science, a smart pointer is an abstract data type that simulates a pointer while providing additional features, such as automatic garbage collection or bounds checking. These additional features are intended to reduce bugs caused by the use of pointers while retaining efficiency. Smart pointers typically keep track of the objects they point to for the purpose of memory management.