Dereferencing
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Dereferencing

You can dereference a smartpointer with the -> operator, to


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call the methods of the underlying instance, just like a normal pointer. 

Glib::RefPtr<Gdk::Bitmap> refBitmap = Gdk::Bitmap::create(window,
data, width, height);
int depth = refBitmap->get_depth();

But unlike most smartpointers, you can't use the * operator to access the underlying instance. 

Glib::RefPtr<Gdk::Bitmap> refBitmap = Gdk::Bitmap::create(window,
data, width, height);
Gdk::Bitmap* underlying = *refBitmap; //Syntax error - will not compile.