C++ Memory::static_pointer_cast

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In addition to upcasts (from pointer-to-derived to pointer-to-base), static_cast can also execute downcasts between pointers to related classes (from pointer-to-base to pointer-to-derived). No verifications are made at runtime to ensure that the object being converted is actually a full object of the target type. So, it is the responsibility of the programmer to guarantee the security of the conversion.

Syntax

Following is the syntax for C++ Memory::static_pointer_cast −

shared_ptr<T> static_pointer_cast (const shared_ptr<U>& sp) noexcept;

Parameters

sp − Its a shared pointer.

Example 1

Following is the example, where we are going to perform static_pointer_casting and getting the output.

#include <iostream>
#include <memory>
struct TP {
   static const char* static_type;
};
const char* TP::static_type = "TUTORIALSPOINT";
int main (){
   std::shared_ptr<TP> Result;
   Result = std::make_shared<TP>();
   std::cout << "Result: " << Result->static_type << '\n';
   return 0;
}

Output

Let us compile and run the above program, this will produce the following result −

Result: TUTORIALSPOINT

Example 2

Let's look into the following example, where the static_pointer_cast go up a class hierarchy.

#include <iostream>
#include <memory>
class Base{
   public:
      int x;
      virtual void tp() const{
         std::cout << "HELLO\n";
      }
      virtual ~Base() {}
};
class Derived : public Base{
   public:
      void tp() const override{
         std::cout << "Namaste\n";
      }
      ~Derived() {}
};
int main(){
   auto basePtr = std::make_shared<Base>();
   std::cout << "A Says: ";
   basePtr->tp();

   auto derivedPtr = std::make_shared<Derived>();
   std::cout << "B Says: ";
   derivedPtr->tp();
   basePtr = std::static_pointer_cast<Base>(derivedPtr);
   std::cout << "C Says: ";
   basePtr->tp();
}

Output

On running the above code, it will display the output as shown below −

A Says: HELLO
B Says: Namaste
C Says: Namaste

Example 3

Considering the following example where we are going to construct a temporary shared_ptr and calling an operator.

#include <iostream>
#include <memory>
struct BaseClass {};
struct DerivedClass : BaseClass {
   void x() const{
      std::cout << "WELCOME TO TP\n";
   }
};
int main(){
   std::shared_ptr<BaseClass> ptr_to_base(std::make_shared<DerivedClass>());
   std::static_pointer_cast<DerivedClass>(ptr_to_base)->x();
}

Output

when the code gets executed, it will generate the output as shown below −

WELCOME TO TP