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