How to convert vector to array

Question

How do I convert a std::vector to a double array[]?

Answer 1

As to std::vector<int> vec, vec to get int*, you can use two method:

1. int* arr = &vec[0];

2. int* arr = vec.data();

If you want to convert any type T vector to T* array, just replace the above int to T.

I will show you why does the above two works, for good understanding?

std::vector is a dynamic array essentially.

Main data member as below:

template <class T, class Alloc = allocator<T>>
class vector{
    public:
        typedef T          value_type;
        typedef T*         iterator;
        typedef T*         pointer;
        //.......
    private:
        pointer start_;
        pointer finish_;
        pointer end_of_storage_;

    public:
        vector():start_(0), finish_(0), end_of_storage_(0){}
    //......
}

The range (start_, end_of_storage_) is all the array memory the vector allocate;

The range(start_, finish_) is all the array memory the vector used;

The range(finish_, end_of_storage_) is the backup array memory.

For example, as to a vector vec. which has {9, 9, 1, 2, 3, 4} is pointer may like the below.

So &vec[0] = start_ (address.) (start_ is equivalent to int* array head)

In c++11 the data() member function just return start_

pointer data()
{ 
     return start_; //(equivalent to `value_type*`, array head)
}

Answer 2

We can do this using data() method. C++11 provides this method.

Code Snippet

#include<bits/stdc++.h>
using namespace std;


int main()
{
  ios::sync_with_stdio(false);

  vector<int>v = {7, 8, 9, 10, 11};
  int *arr = v.data();

  for(int i=0; i<v.size(); i++)
  {
    cout<<arr[i]<<" ";
  }

  return 0;
}

Answer 3

What for? You need to clarify: Do you need a pointer to the first element of an array, or an array?

If you're calling an API function that expects the former, you can do do_something(&v[0], v.size()), where v is a vector of doubles. The elements of a vector are contiguous.

Otherwise, you just have to copy each element:

double arr[100];
std::copy(v.begin(), v.end(), arr);

Ensure not only thar arr is big enough, but that arr gets filled up, or you have uninitialized values.

Answer 4

std::vector<double> vec;
double* arr = vec.data();