[Term Entry] C++ Smart Pointer Method: std::unique_ptr::release()

content/cpp/concepts/pointers/terms/release/release.md

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+---
+Title: 'release'
+Description: 'Releases ownership of the managed object from a std::unique_ptr.'
+Subjects: 
+  - 'Code Foundations'
+  - 'Computer Science'
+Tags:
+  - 'Memory'
+  - 'Pointers'
+  - 'Programming'
+  - 'Variables'
+CatalogContent:
+  - 'learn-c-plus-plus'
+  - 'paths/computer-science'
+---
+
+The **`release()`** function is a member function of smart pointer class `std::unique_ptr`. It releases ownership of the managed object and returns the raw pointer to that object. After calling `release()` the smart pointer becomes empty and holds `nullptr`. 
+
+## Syntax
+
+```cpp
+std::unique_ptr<int> ptr(new int(10));
+int* raw_pointer = ptr.release();
+```
+
+The code snippet above creates a `unique_ptr` managing a new integer with a value of 10. Calling `release()` relinquishes ownership and returns the raw pointer, which is assigned to `raw_pointer`.
+
+### Parameters
+
+The function takes no parameters.
+
+### Return value
+
+Returns the raw pointer to the object managed by the `unique_ptr` before the call.
+
+### Notes
+
+After calling `release()`, the caller is responsible for managing the lifetime of the returned raw pointer, including deleting it when no longer needed to prevent memory leaks.
+
+## Example
+
+The following demonstrates how to use `release()`:
+
+```cpp
+#include <iostream>
+#include <memory>
+
+int main() {
+
+  // Create a unique_ptr managing a new int
+  std::unique_ptr<int> auto_pointer (new int);
+
+  // Raw pointer to hold the released pointer
+  int* manual_pointer;
+
+  // Assign value 10 to the managed object
+  *auto_pointer = 10;
+
+  // Release ownership and get the raw pointer
+  manual_pointer = auto_pointer.release();
+
+  // Output the value pointed to by manual_pointer
+  std::cout << "manual_pointer now points to " << *manual_pointer << "\n";
+
+  // Manually delete the raw pointer to avoid memory leak
+  delete manual_pointer;
+
+  return 0;
+} 
+```
+
+This example creates a unique_ptr called auto_pointer. It manages a dynamically allocated integer and assigns a value of 10 to the object. `Release()` is then used to relinquish ownership and assign the raw pointer to `manual_pointer`. The program prints the value and then manually deletes the raw pointer to avoid a memory leak.
+