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(C++) array

array is one of these topics:

• A plain array
• std::tr1::array
• boost::array
• std::array

See array/std::array/boost::array example 1: comparison for a comparison.

A plain array

An array is a collection of elements that can be accessed by the index operator.

Prefer a std::vector (or perhaps std::array) over an array by default [1-4]. Consider not using arrays in the interface of a class.

The first element of an array is at index zero.

There are two kinds of arrays:

1. Static arrays: size known at compile-time, for example 'int v[10]'
2. Dynamically allocated arrays: size gets determined at run-time, for example 'int * v')

Advice

• Take care not to write beyond the bounds of an array [5,7]
• Avoid multidimensional arrays; define suitable containers instead [8]
• Use containers rather than plain arrays [9]
• Use std::string rather than zero-terminated arrays of chars [10]
• Avoid passing arrays as pointers [11]
• Use std::vector and std::string instead of arrays [15] (note: this was before std::array was in the STL)
• Prefer std::array to built-in arrays [12-14,16]

Examples

• Array example 1: create different array types (static, dynamic, std::array, boost::array)
• Array example 2: array of Derived falls back to an array of Base without warnings
• Array example 3: passing an array as a pointer and size cannot be checked to be correct
• Array example 4: benchmark comparing speed of a plain array with a std::vector
• Array example 5: benchmark comparing speed of a plain array with a std::array
• Array example 6: passing an array as T* or T[] is equivalent
• Array example 7: creating an array of negative size is accepted without warning
• Array example 8: an array is not a regular type

std::tr1::array

See std::tr1::array.

boost::array

See boost::array.

std::array

See std::array.

References

1. Bjarne Stroustrup. The C++ Programming Language (3rd edition). ISBN: 0-201-88954-4 Chapter 5.8.4 'Use vector and valarray rather than built-in (C-style) arrays'
2. Herb Sutter and Andrei Alexandrescu. C++ coding standards: 101 rules, guidelines, and best practices. ISBN: 0-32-111358-6. Chapter 76: 'Use vector by default. Otherwise choose an appropriate container'
3. Marshall Cline, Greg Lomow and Mike Girou. C++ FAQs. ISBN: 0-201-3098301, FAQ 28.02: 'Are arrays good or evil?' (Answer: 'Arrays are evil'
4. Bjarne Stroustrup. The C++ Programming Language (3rd edition). ISBN: 0-201-88954-4 Chapter C.14.11 'Prefer vector over array'
5. Bjarne Stroustrup. The C++ Programming Language (3rd edition). ISBN: 0-201-88954-4 5.8.2: 'Take care not to write beyond the bounds of an array'
6. Joint Strike Fighter Air Vehicle C++ Coding Standards for the System Development and Demonstration Program. Document Number 2RDU00001 Rev C. December 2005. AV Rule 97: 'Arrays shall not be used in interfaces. Instead, the Array class should be used.'
7. Bjarne Stroustrup. The C++ Programming Language (4th edition). 2013. ISBN: 978-0-321-56384-2. Chapter 7.8. Advice. page 199: '[3] Take care not to write beyond the bounds of an array'
8. Bjarne Stroustrup. The C++ Programming Language (4th edition). 2013. ISBN: 978-0-321-56384-2. Chapter 7.8. Advice. page 199: '[4] Avoid multidimensional arrays; define suitable containers instead'
9. Bjarne Stroustrup. The C++ Programming Language (4th edition). 2013. ISBN: 978-0-321-56384-2. Chapter 7.8. Advice. page 199: '[6] Use containers (e.g., vector, array, and valarray) rather than built-in (C-style) arrays'
10. Bjarne Stroustrup. The C++ Programming Language (4th edition). 2013. ISBN: 978-0-321-56384-2. Chapter 7.8. Advice. page 199: '[7] Use string rather than zero-terminated arrays of chars'
11. Bjarne Stroustrup. The C++ Programming Language (4th edition). 2013. ISBN: 978-0-321-56384-2. Chapter 12.7. Advice. page 341: '[15] Avoid passing arrays as pointers'
12. Scott Meyers. C++ And Beyond 2012 session: 'Initial thoughts on Effective C++11'. 2012. 'Prefer std::array to Built-in Arrays'
13. Scott Meyers. Effective Modern C++ (1st Edition). 2014. ISBN: 978-1-491-90399-5. Item 1, page 17: 'Of course, as a modern C++ developer, you'd naturally preder a std::array to a built-in array'
14. Bjarne Stroustrup. A tour of C++. 2014. ISBN: 978-0-321-958310. Chapter 11.7.11: 'Prefer array over built-in arrays'
15. Herb Sutter and Andrei Alexandrescu. C++ coding standards: 101 rules, guidelines, and best practices. ISBN: 0-32-111358-6. Chapter 77: 'Use vector and string instead of arrays'
16. Bjarne Stroustrup. The C++ Programming Language (4th edition). 2013. ISBN: 978-0-321-56384-2. Chapter 34.7. Advice. page 1007: '[2] Prefer array over built-in arrays'

Go back to Richel Bilderbeek's C++ page.

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