Why you shouldn't store auto_ptr objects in STL containers
Most C++ users already know that they shouldn't use auto_ptr objects as elements of STL containers. However, fewer users know exactly why this is so.
The C++ Standard says that an STL element must be "copy-constructible" and "assignable." These fancy words simply mean you can safely assign or copy one object to another and get two independent and logically identical copies. In particular, the state of the original object shouldn't change when it is copied to the target object.
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