src/std/rc.md

# `Rc`

When multiple ownership is needed, `Rc`(Reference Counting) can be used. `Rc` keeps track of the number of the references which means the number of owners of the value wrapped inside an `Rc`. 

Reference count of an `Rc` increases by 1 whenever an `Rc` is cloned, and decreases by 1 whenever one cloned `Rc` is dropped out of the scope. When an `Rc`'s reference count becomes zero, which means there are no owners remained, both the `Rc` and the value are all dropped. 

Cloning an `Rc` never do a deep copy. Cloning creates just another pointer to the wrapped value, and increments the count.

```rust,editable
use std::rc::Rc;

fn main() {
    let rc_examples = "Rc examples".to_string();
    {
        println!("--- rc_a is created ---");
        
        let rc_a: Rc<String> = Rc::new(rc_examples);
        println!("Reference Count of rc_a: {}", Rc::strong_count(&rc_a));
        
        {
            println!("--- rc_a is cloned to rc_b ---");
            
            let rc_b: Rc<String> = Rc::clone(&rc_a);
            println!("Reference Count of rc_b: {}", Rc::strong_count(&rc_b));
            println!("Reference Count of rc_a: {}", Rc::strong_count(&rc_a));
            
            // Two `Rc`s are equal if their inner values are equal
            println!("rc_a and rc_b are equal: {}", rc_a.eq(&rc_b));
            
            // We can use methods of a value directly
            println!("Length of the value inside rc_a: {}", rc_a.len());
            println!("Value of rc_b: {}", rc_b);
            
            println!("--- rc_b is dropped out of scope ---");
        }
        
        println!("Reference Count of rc_a: {}", Rc::strong_count(&rc_a));
        
        println!("--- rc_a is dropped out of scope ---");
    }
    
    // Error! `rc_examples` already moved into `rc_a`
    // And when `rc_a` is dropped, `rc_examples` is dropped together
    // println!("rc_examples: {}", rc_examples);
    // TODO ^ Try uncommenting this line
}
```

### See also:

[std::rc][1] and [Arc][2].

[1]: https://doc.rust-lang.org/std/rc/index.html
[2]: https://doc.rust-lang.org/std/sync/struct.Arc.html