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The article explains the concept of different shared_ptrs in C++. A shared_ptr in C++ manages a reference-counted pointer, usually pointing to an object that will be deleted when the last reference expires. However, there are cases where the managed object and the stored pointer can be different. One such use case is when you want to have a shared_ptr whose get() returns a pointer to a sub-object of another large object. The article provides examples of how to convert a shared_ptr into a shared_ptr by reusing the control block and substituting a new stored pointer. It also emphasizes that the lifetime of the stored pointer should be contained within the lifetime of the managed object. The article warns against breaking the chain of lifetime control and introduces the concept of aliasing shared pointers. Developers can use this knowledge to effectively manage shared_ptrs and avoid potential issues.