array<unsigned char>^ vs char[ ]

Hey guys, I have started exploring some programming concepts on my own,and in particular some that are special to the windows API. I am trying to use the function shown below as part of my class constructor. My plan is to create a "payload" which will be used later in my AVL tree class.

Code:

//constructor
payload::payload(string clear){}

Code:

//mentioned function array<unsigned char>^ ComputeHash(
	array<unsigned char>^ buffer
)

The problem is, I am having trouble finding good materiel that explains exactly what a array<unsigned char>^ really is, and as you can see, I want my constructor to take a string as an argument, but once again the function takes an array<unsigned char>^.

I need someone to help explain what a array<unsigned char>^ exactly is , and how I can work between them with char[] and strings.

Thanks a ton guys!

PS: Here is the reference im looking at ComputeHash Method (Byte[])

The problem is that the ComputeHash function isn't C++! It's a new Microsoft-specific language called C++/CLI, which is a different beast. So unless you plan on learning that (in which case this would be more suited for the Tech Board), I suggest you avoid that function and anything connected to the .NET Framework.

I see, so what would be the best way then to calculate md5 hashes using a C++ windows library? I was stumbling through msdn and that is what happened upon.

So the next question I pose, so I wasn't ignorant about a C++ feature for not remembering the array<unsigned char>^ type? That is a type that exists only in there c++/CLI language?

There is no standard function for calculating md5 hashes, unfortunately. You may want to search the web for some implementation.
Yep, this type only exists in C++/CLI. You can see that by looking at the "^", which is basically a "managed reference."

I see, I will look around for a third party library then, I was trying to use Microsoft libs were possible. I have a final question, does the data type array<unsigned char> with out the carrot exists at all in C++ or in a MS library as #define? If it doesn't exists that is actually encouraging to me as it is one less thing to understand.

PS: Thanks for the information btw!

Originally Posted by jlangfo5

I see, I will look around for a third party library then, I was trying to use Microsoft libs were possible. I have a final question, does the data type array<unsigned char> with out the carrot exists at all in C++ or in a MS library as #define? If it doesn't exists that is actually encouraging to me as it is one less thing to understand.

PS: Thanks for the information btw!

It does exist in the new standard, which is a different thing - a fixed-length array (you need to specify one template parameter more).
A C++ equivalent would be std::vector.

And strings should be passed by const reference:

Code:

payload::payload(const std::string& clear){}

The type does exist ISO C++ too. There is std::array and there is unsigned char.