Which style is better when declaring formal parameters in functions concerning pointers and arrays.
int sum(int * array, int n) or
int sum(int array[], int n).
I think the first is better because it leaves out any ambiguity that may occure if someone does not know that in this context int arrray[] is acctually a pointer to int.
Personally, I try to use std::vector in the place of arrays, which is not only completely unambiguous, but you can do nice things like determine the array size within the function.
I tend to use pointer notation if I'm forced to use one of the two.
I only ever use vectors when I don't know the number of elements that will be in the array or the array is going to be/can be quite large. For example, an array of 5 ints, I wouldn't bother, but for an array of 50 class structures, I would use a vector.
I tend to use vectors in 3 cases:
1) I don't know the size at compile time. Directly using dynamic memory allocation using new[]/delete[] is much more prone to errors and memory leaks, and I know myself well enough to know I'm not immune to dumb mistakes.
2) I plan on passing the array to a function that will need to know its size. I find it easier to use a vector and let the function discover the size rather than using a const variable for the size.
3) I plan to use multidimentional arrays.
I haven't learned about vectors yet but arrays in which you pass the size may have an advantage when for instance you pass only part of the array say the first 3 elements or when you pass elements starting say with the 3rd element to the end of the array.
ie
int total;
int arr[10];
// pass only first 3 elements
total=sum(arr,3);
// pass 3 elements starting with 3th index on
total=sum(arr+3,3);
You can do the same with std::vectors. You just have to use iterators instead of simply pointers.
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