How get size of every dimension in array?

If I have a method:

Code:

public void do(int[][] num);

How would I loop through every dimension in the multi-dimensional array? In other words, how do I find the size(s)?

In java i can do:

Code:

for ( int i = 0; i < num.size(); i++ )

what do I do in c++?

Thanks!

With native arrays, you can't. However, if you std::vector, you can indeed via the member size().
All you might need to do is:
std::vector< std::vector<int> >

You can find out the size of an array if you can access the original array itself. However, passing an array to a function means that you can't tell how big the array is inside the function. So you have to pass the size of the array to the function.

Also, all but the leftmost array element has to have a size in it.

To get the number of elements in an array, use sizeof(array)/sizeof(*array) (or array[0] instead of *array). Note that this works for arrays with any arbitrary number of dimensions. For example:

Code:

int array[2][3][4];
size_t x = sizeof(array) / sizeof(*array);  /* = 2 */
size_t x2 = sizeof(array) / sizeof(array[0]);  /* = 2 */
size_t y = sizeof(*array) / sizeof(**array);  /* = 3 */
size_t y2 = sizeof(array[0]) / sizeof(array[0][0]);  /* = 3 */
size_t z = sizeof(**array) / sizeof(***array);  /* = 4 */
size_t z = sizeof(array[0][0]) / sizeof(array[0][0][0]);  /* = 4 */

Anyway -- here's food for thought.

Code:

#include <iostream>

void print_array(int array[3][3]);
void print_any_array(int array[], size_t elements);
void print_2D_array(int array[][3], size_t elements);

int main(void) {
    int array[3][3] = {{1, 2, 3}, {4, 5, 6}, {7, 8, 9}};

    print_array(array);
    print_2D_array(array, sizeof(array) / sizeof(*array));

    return 0;
}

void print_array(int array[3][3]) {
    for(int x = 0; x < 3; x ++) {
        for(int y = 0; y < 3; y ++) {
            std::cout << array[x][y] << ' ';
        }
        std::cout << std::endl;
    }
}

void print_any_array(int array[], size_t elements) {
    for(size_t i = 0; i < elements; i ++) {
        std::cout << array[i] << ' ';
    }
}

void print_2D_array(int array[][3], size_t elements) {
    for(size_t i = 0; i < elements; i ++) {
        print_any_array(array[i], 3);
        std::cout << std::endl;
    }
}

Well for starters, in C++, you need to specify the size of one of the dimensions. Then I guess you could use the sizeof keyword or simply ask for the size of the other dimension as a function argument.

Code:

#include <iostream>

int main(int argc, char* argv[]){

  int two_dim[1][1];

  int size = sizeof(two_dim)/sizeof(*two_dim);

  std::cout << size;

  return 0;

}

//prints 1

But since you're in C++, why not use vectors/lists? They have functions like size() that makes it much easier.

EDIT: oh wow you guys are fast =P.

Something I forgot to mention which this reminded me of:

Code:

int size = sizeof(two_dim[0])/sizeof(*two_dim[0]);

sizeof() actually evaluates to a value of type size_t, not int. However, many people don't like typing "size_t" all of the time, so you can use int if you like. You'll only run into trouble with really, really long strings.

Your compiler might warn about signed/unsigned type mismatches, however. If it does, and you care, you could use

Code:

int size = (int)(sizeof(two_dim[0])/sizeof(*two_dim[0]));

or better yet, size_ts.

Thanks for all the great replies!

A couple points and questions:

1. The reason why I don't use vectors is that I can't dictate that in my code. I have to use what i'm getting from a third party's code and they use stuff like "int[][][]."

2. If you can use sizeof() sometimes, why can't you use it all the time? I don't understand why it works for a 1-dimensional array, or for "some" dimensions but not all dimensions. Can someone explain this to me?

3. Why can't I pass an "unknown" array by reference?

1. That's invalid, so it's unlikely that you're looking at it.
2. http://c-faq.com/aryptr/pass2dary.html
3. See #1.

Originally Posted by Dave_Sinkula

1. That's invalid, so it's unlikely that you're looking at it.
2. http://c-faq.com/aryptr/pass2dary.html
3. See #1.

It's not invalid. You can define the following function:

void do(int arg[][][]);

That's completely valid in C++ and that's what I've been given to work with (they're interfaces that are expected and data is passed to them from other code).

Originally Posted by 6tr6tr

It's not invalid. You can define the following function:

void do(int arg[][][]);

That's completely valid in C++ and that's what I've been given to work with (they're interfaces that are expected and data is passed to them from other code).

what compiler are you using? when i try to compile that, i get this:

5 C:\Documents and Settings\Owner\My Documents\c++ programs\untitled14.cpp declaration of `a' as multidimensional array must have bounds for all dimensions except the first

Originally Posted by 6tr6tr

That's completely valid in C++ and that's what I've been given to work with (they're interfaces that are expected and data is passed to them from other code).

From the 2003 edition of the C++ Standard (ISO/IEC 14882:2003), section 8.3.4:

When several "array of" specifications are adjacent, a multidimensional array is created; the constant expressions that specify the bounds of the arrays can be omitted only for the first member of the sequence. [Note: this elision is useful for function parameters of array types, and when the array is external and the definition, which allocates storage, is given elsewhere. ]

Take a look at what you claim to be valid:

Code:

void do(int arg[][][]);

The constant expressions are omitted from all three "array of" specifications. The standard only allows the first one to be omitted. Therefore your claim is incorrect.

Originally Posted by 6tr6tr

2. If you can use sizeof() sometimes, why can't you use it all the time? I don't understand why it works for a 1-dimensional array, or for "some" dimensions but not all dimensions. Can someone explain this to me?

You can get the size of all dimensions. However, you can't get the size of an array once passed to a function because arrays are passed as pointers.

Originally Posted by 6tr6tr

3. Why can't I pass an "unknown" array by reference?

You cannot pass an array of unknown dimensions because the compiler wouldn't be able to generate correct code, for one thing.

See, in C and C++, arrays are very low-level things. They're just a big chunk of contiguous memory. 1D arrays are the easiest to visualize. For an array of ten elements, you just allocate ten times the size of one element. Because C++ doesn't do bounds checking, you can just pass the address of the first part of this memory to a function. As long as you know the size of each element -- and you do, because they have a specified type, say "int" -- then the function can calculate the position of each element in the array. The function doesn't know that there are only ten elements and lets you try to access element 15, but that's what C++ does.

But when you have more than one dimension, it gets more complicated. With

Code:

int array[3][4];

array[0] is just like a 1D array. Each element (array[0][x]) is the size of an int.

But array[1] has to start counting at one past the last element of array[0]. Remember, arrays are contiguous memory. In order to do this, it needs to know how big array[0] was. In effect, since array[0][3] is the last element of array[0], array[1][0] is like array[0][4].

In order for a called function to calculate where array[1][0] actually refers to, it needs to know how many elements are in array[0]. It needs to be passed "int array[][4]", which gives it all the information it needs. Each element is the size of an int. And each first-level element of array (like array[0]) has 4 elements; so array[1][2] is sizeof(int)*(4 * 1 + 2) bytes beyond the first element of the array.

*sees confusion* Look, I haven't explained it very well. If you're interested, consider consulting Wikipedia or a textbox.

Anyway, in Java, arrays are just objects. Internally, they're probably stored the same way or similarly (maybe not contiguous, who knows). But the array object stores the dimensions of itself, so functions can still find the same information without you having to tell it how big the various dimensions of the array are.

C and C++'s philosophy emphasizes efficiency, which is why they do this as they do. Java has a much greater emphasis on security and usability. So, for example, a Java array will tell you when you go outside its bounds, and it much easier to pass around. But a C++ array uses less memory and less execution time. Ease of use is the price you pay for efficiency.

C++ folks, of course, don't always want this efficiency at the cost of usability, which is why STL containers like vectors were invented. You'll find them much easier to use, because they're very similar to Java's arrays.

I do suggest you learn about arrays sometime, however. They're very widely used.