Change the mapped_value in a std::map

Hi all,

My Map container is like this: map<string,int>

If a certain key value (string) is found,

I'd like to increment the integer. as in map<string,int>

How do you go about modifying the mapped value?

I looked into operator[] but it seems you can only change the key value.

Any help is greatly appreciated,

dudeomanodude

I looked into operator[] but it seems you can only change the key value.

Actually, you can only change the mapped value, not the key:

Code:

++your_map[your_string];

Of course, in the above example if your_string is not found in your_map, it would be added with a corresponding mapped value of 0. If this is undesirable, use map's find() member function instead.

Originally Posted by dudeomanodude

I looked into operator[] but it seems you can only change the key value.

Look again. Better yet, try it... :-)

Originally Posted by dudeomanodude

I looked into operator[] but it seems you can only change the key value.

Changing the key value is impossible. operator[] does exactly what you're looking for.

Actually, you can only change the mapped value, not the key:

Sorry, the example on cplusplus.com was a little confusing.

Yeah it works.

Now is there any advantage one way or the other between:

Code:

++(*it).second;

// And:

++map[a_string]

???

better to use find(key), if you do not want to automatically create new entries for non-existing keys.

Now is there any advantage one way or the other between:

That's not a fair comparison though. It should be between:

Code:

std::map<std::string,int>::iterator it = map.find(a_string);
if (it != map.end())
{
    ++(*it).second; // or perhaps: ++it->second;
}

and:

Code:

++map[a_string];

In which case the difference is that the former will not insert an element that was not found, whereas the latter will. The advantage depends on the requirements.

Originally Posted by laserlight

Actually, you can only change the mapped value, not the key:

Code:

++your_map[your_string];

Of course, in the above example if your_string is not found in your_map, it would be added with a corresponding mapped value of 1. If this is undesirable, use map's find() member function instead.

Small edit.

Small edit.

That's incorrect, since the int will be zero initialised when it is added, and then incremented after it is added.