How do you dynamically allocate a matrix?

Question

How do you dynamically allocate a 2D matrix in C++? I have tried based on what I already know:

#include 

int main(){
    int rows;
    int c         


        

Answer 1

You can also use std::vectors for achieving this:

using std::vector< std::vector<int> >

Example:

std::vector< std::vector<int> > a;

  //m * n is the size of the matrix

    int m = 2, n = 4;
    //Grow rows by m
    a.resize(m);
    for(int i = 0 ; i < m ; ++i)
    {
        //Grow Columns by n
        a[i].resize(n);
    }
    //Now you have matrix m*n with default values

    //you can use the Matrix, now
    a[1][0]=1;
    a[1][1]=2;
    a[1][2]=3;
    a[1][3]=4;

//OR
for(i = 0 ; i < m ; ++i)
{
    for(int j = 0 ; j < n ; ++j)
    {      //modify matrix
        int x = a[i][j];
    }

}

Answer 2

or you can just allocate a 1D array but reference elements in a 2D fashion:

to address row 2, column 3 (top left corner is row 0, column 0):

arr[2 * MATRIX_WIDTH + 3]

where MATRIX_WIDTH is the number of elements in a row.

Answer 3

Here is the most clear & intuitive way i know to allocate a dynamic 2d array in C++. Templated in this example covers all cases.

template<typename T> T** matrixAllocate(int rows, int cols, T **M)
{
    M = new T*[rows];
    for (int i = 0; i < rows; i++){
        M[i] = new T[cols];
    }
    return M;
}

... 

int main()
{
    ...
    int** M1 = matrixAllocate<int>(rows, cols, M1);
    double** M2 = matrixAllocate(rows, cols, M2);
    ...
}

Answer 4

A matrix is actually an array of arrays.

int rows = ..., cols = ...;
int** matrix = new int*[rows];
for (int i = 0; i < rows; ++i)
    matrix[i] = new int[cols];

Of course, to delete the matrix, you should do the following:

for (int i = 0; i < rows; ++i)
    delete [] matrix[i];
delete [] matrix;

---

I have just figured out another possibility:

int rows = ..., cols = ...;
int** matrix = new int*[rows];
if (rows)
{
    matrix[0] = new int[rows * cols];
    for (int i = 1; i < rows; ++i)
        matrix[i] = matrix[0] + i * cols;
}

Freeing this array is easier:

if (rows) delete [] matrix[0];
delete [] matrix;

This solution has the advantage of allocating a single big block of memory for all the elements, instead of several little chunks. The first solution I posted is a better example of the arrays of arrays concept, though.

Answer 5

Using the double-pointer is by far the best compromise between execution speed/optimisation and legibility. Using a single array to store matrix' contents is actually what a double-pointer does.

I have successfully used the following templated creator function (yes, I know I use old C-style pointer referencing, but it does make code more clear on the calling side with regards to changing parameters - something I like about pointers which is not possible with references. You will see what I mean):

///
/// Matrix Allocator Utility
/// @param pppArray Pointer to the double-pointer where the matrix should be allocated.
/// @param iRows Number of rows.
/// @param iColumns Number of columns.
/// @return Successful allocation returns true, else false.
template <typename T>
bool NewMatrix(T*** pppArray, 
               size_t iRows, 
               size_t iColumns)
{
   bool l_bResult = false;
   if (pppArray != 0) // Test if pointer holds a valid address.
   {                  // I prefer using the shorter 0 in stead of NULL.
      if (!((*pppArray) != 0)) // Test if the first element is currently unassigned.
      {                        // The "double-not" evaluates a little quicker in general.
         // Allocate and assign pointer array.
         (*pppArray) = new T* [iRows]; 
         if ((*pppArray) != 0) // Test if pointer-array allocation was successful.
         {
            // Allocate and assign common data storage array.
            (*pppArray)[0] = new T [iRows * iColumns]; 
            if ((*pppArray)[0] != 0) // Test if data array allocation was successful.
            {
               // Using pointer arithmetic requires the least overhead. There is no 
               // expensive repeated multiplication involved and very little additional 
               // memory is used for temporary variables.
               T** l_ppRow = (*pppArray);
               T* l_pRowFirstElement = l_ppRow[0];
               for (size_t l_iRow = 1; l_iRow < iRows; l_iRow++)
               {
                  l_ppRow++;
                  l_pRowFirstElement += iColumns;
                  l_ppRow[0] = l_pRowFirstElement;
               }
               l_bResult = true;
            }
         }
      }
   }
}

To de-allocate the memory created using the abovementioned utility, one simply has to de-allocate in reverse.

///
/// Matrix De-Allocator Utility
/// @param pppArray Pointer to the double-pointer where the matrix should be de-allocated.
/// @return Successful de-allocation returns true, else false.
template <typename T>
bool DeleteMatrix(T*** pppArray)
{
   bool l_bResult = false;
   if (pppArray != 0) // Test if pointer holds a valid address.
   {
      if ((*pppArray) != 0) // Test if pointer array was assigned.
      {
         if ((*pppArray)[0] != 0) // Test if data array was assigned.
         {
               // De-allocate common storage array.
               delete [] (*pppArray)[0];
            }
         }
         // De-allocate pointer array.
         delete [] (*pppArray);
         (*pppArray) = 0;
         l_bResult = true;
      }
   }
}

To use these abovementioned template functions is then very easy (e.g.):

   .
   .
   .
   double l_ppMatrix = 0;
   NewMatrix(&l_ppMatrix, 3, 3); // Create a 3 x 3 Matrix and store it in l_ppMatrix.
   .
   .
   .
   DeleteMatrix(&l_ppMatrix);