How do I initialize an array in a class file

Hi there,

I have a question about array initialization in class files. What is the proper way to do it? I have tried the following in a .h file.

Code:

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const int arr [] = {123, 456, 789};

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Which gives an error complaining about brace init in the .h file. If I do it in the .cpp file then it won't get recognized in subclasses that are including the .h file. I want this array to be private to the class, as an internal data member.

Constant arrays are really a pain to work with in C++ classes. I have avoided them for this reason. You could carry a container instead, and assign something like so:

Code:

---

class foo
{
  private:
  const vector<int> arr;
  public:
  foo(const int *const a, size_t size): arr(a, a + size) {}
};

---

It basically must be constructed like this, as any and all constants are handled in the initializer list. I used a vector here, but you could use any container.

That's pretty much the only way without using the mutable keyword. The other way, calling an init function in the constructor body to set up the same array every time, depends on the array being mutable.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Subsonics

Hi there,

I have a question about array initialization in class files. What is the proper way to do it? I have tried the following in a .h file.

Code:

---

const int arr [] = {123, 456, 789};

---

Which gives an error complaining about brace init in the .h file. If I do it in the .cpp file then it won't get recognized in subclasses that are including the .h file. I want this array to be private to the class, as an internal data member.

---

Code:

---

//.h
class Foo {
        static const int arr[];
};

//.cpp
const int Foo::arr[] = {123, 456, 789};

---

Thanks for those suggestions. I ended up declaring it static which worked out fine in this case. :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by whiteflags

Constant arrays are really a pain to work with in C++ classes. I have avoided them for this reason. You could carry a container instead, and assign something like so:

Code:

---

class foo
{
  private:
  const vector<int> arr;
  public:
  foo(const int *const a, size_t size): arr(a, a + size) {}
};

---

It basically must be constructed like this, as any and all constants are handled in the initializer list. I used a vector here, but you could use any container.

That's pretty much the only way without using the mutable keyword. The other way, calling an init function in the constructor body to set up the same array every time, depends on the array being mutable.

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If this is for statically allocated arrays then you could improve on your foo constructor somewhat by removing the need to pass a size parameter, and have the compiler automatically detect it (Also stops a hapless user of the class passing in a pointer or 'null' value rather than an array)

Code:

---

class foo
{
private:
  const vector<int> arr;
public:
  template<int size>
  foo(const int (&a)[size])
      : arr(a, a + size) {}
};

int main()
{
    int bar[5];
    foo my_foo(bar);
}

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