CODEWITHSUNDEEP
c++arrays
VIVID
VIVID

Reputation: 585

Initializing the array so that one can find the number of assigned values into the array

What is the best way to keep track of the number of assigned elements in predefined C++ arrays?

For example, in the following code, one can easily run a loop till it encounters the first 0 in the array:

#include <iostream>
using namespace std;

#define MAX 500

int main() {
  int a[MAX] = {};
  a[0] = 1;
  a[1] = 2;
  a[2] = 3;
  // loop
}

However, if we consider the following definition:

#include <iostream>
using namespace std;

#define MAX 500

int main() {
  int a[MAX] = {};
  a[0] = 1;
  a[1] = 0;
  a[2] = 3;
  // loop
}

Seeking for the first 0 does not work since there is still a value of 3 after the first 0.

My question: How should I initialize the array so that I would have a "stable" rule of counting the number of assigned values?

Upvotes: 0

Views: 46

Answers (1)

SergeyA
SergeyA

Reputation: 62603

The best way would be to use a structure built specifically to support your use case. The very good one I know of is boost.static_vector.

You can push/pop elements to/from it, you can explicitly set and query it's size, and all the while the storage is allocated statically.

Upvotes: 1

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