C++ Actor Framework 0.18
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Public Types | Public Member Functions | Static Public Member Functions | Public Attributes | Related Functions | List of all members
caf::actor_control_block Class Reference

Actors are always allocated with a control block that stores its identity as well as strong and weak reference counts to it. More...

#include <actor_control_block.hpp>

Public Types

using data_destructor = void(*)(abstract_actor *)
 
using block_destructor = void(*)(actor_control_block *)
 

Public Member Functions

 actor_control_block (actor_id x, node_id &y, actor_system *sys, data_destructor ddtor, block_destructor bdtor)
 
 actor_control_block (const actor_control_block &)=delete
 
actor_control_blockoperator= (const actor_control_block &)=delete
 
abstract_actorget ()
 Returns a pointer to the actual actor instance.
 

Static Public Member Functions

static actor_control_blockfrom (const abstract_actor *ptr)
 Returns a pointer to the control block that stores identity and reference counts for this actor.
 

Public Attributes

std::atomic< size_t > strong_refs
 
std::atomic< size_t > weak_refs
 
const actor_id aid
 
const node_id nid
 
actor_system *const home_system
 
const data_destructor data_dtor
 
const block_destructor block_dtor
 

Related Functions

(Note that these are not member functions.)

using strong_actor_ptr = intrusive_ptr< actor_control_block >
 
using weak_actor_ptr = weak_intrusive_ptr< actor_control_block >
 
CAF_CORE_EXPORT bool intrusive_ptr_upgrade_weak (actor_control_block *x)
 
void intrusive_ptr_add_weak_ref (actor_control_block *x)
 
CAF_CORE_EXPORT void intrusive_ptr_release_weak (actor_control_block *x)
 
void intrusive_ptr_add_ref (actor_control_block *x)
 
CAF_CORE_EXPORT void intrusive_ptr_release (actor_control_block *x)
 

Detailed Description

Actors are always allocated with a control block that stores its identity as well as strong and weak reference counts to it.

Unlike "common" weak pointer designs, the goal is not to allocate the data separately. Instead, the only goal is to break cycles. For example, linking two actors automatically creates a cycle when using strong reference counts only.

When allocating a new actor, CAF will always embed the user-defined actor in an actor_storage with the control block prefixing the actual actor type, as shown below.

+----------------------------------------+
|            actor_storage<T>            |
+----------------------------------------+
| +-----------------+------------------+ |
| |  control block  |  actor data (T)  | |
| +-----------------+------------------+ |
| | ref count       | mailbox          | |
| | weak ref count  | .                | |
| | actor ID        | .                | |
| | node ID         | .                | |
| +-----------------+------------------+ |
+----------------------------------------+

Actors start with a strong reference count of 1. This count is transferred to the first actor or typed_actor handle used to store the actor. Actors will also start with a weak reference count of 1. This count is decremenated once the strong reference count drops to 0.

The data block is destructed by calling the destructor of T when the last strong reference expires. The storage itself is destroyed when the last weak reference expires.


The documentation for this class was generated from the following file: