c++ , how to store string,int and float values into an array and retrieving back the stored values

Question

Is an array possible to store int, string and float all at the same time? I have been seeing some array syntax but all starts with int array[] or string array[], is there a way which a array can store all kind of primitive and string values?

Im not very familiar with C++ but in java there is a iterator which can help you roll those stored values out and allow you to display what is stored in there. Does C++ also have this feature?

@amit, pointers are clearly possible. my experience shows that algorithms can get quite difficult (memory-wise) that way. and: RTTI will get troublesome. — Rudolf Mühlbauer
– Rudolf Mühlbauer, Commented Oct 16, 2012 at 17:38
I know this isn't really helpful, but why do you need to do this? Having an array with several types on it can be quite confusing. Could you try modelling your solution differently? — leo
– leo, Commented Oct 16, 2012 at 17:39
Using std::vector is more idiomatic (and maintainable) than using arrays. — Tom Kerr
– Tom Kerr, Commented Oct 16, 2012 at 17:44
For what it's worth, I doubt that a class would give you an assignment that requires boxing types like this. You may be misunderstanding a requirement. Perhaps an opportunity for polymorphism? — Tom Kerr
– Tom Kerr, Commented Oct 16, 2012 at 17:46

Rudolf Mühlbauer · Accepted Answer · 2012-10-16 17:36:29Z

5

For basic types, this would be easy: they can be mixed into a union, http://www.cplusplus.com/doc/tutorial/other_data_types/ (->Unions).

For complex types, like string, it gets a little more difficult.

You might want to look at boost::variant, http://www.boost.org/doc/libs/1_36_0/doc/html/variant.html or boost::any http://www.boost.org/doc/libs/1_51_0/doc/html/any.html

answered Oct 16, 2012 at 17:36

Rudolf Mühlbauer

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3 Comments

Tom Kerr Over a year ago

boost::variant being preferable as they know all the types they want to store?

bames53 Over a year ago

C++ allows non-POD types in a union now (with C++11). std::string will work, though of course some extra work is required to correctly manage the union member objects' lifetimes. OTOH boost::variant already does all the work for you.

Rudolf Mühlbauer Over a year ago

@bames53 thanks! didn't know that. never got around C++11! How shameful!

Jake Sellers · Accepted Answer · 2012-10-16 17:38:27Z

5

if these values are related, then create a struct and store that instead of individual values. ex:

struct person {
    string name;
    int age;
};
person pArray[];

answered Oct 16, 2012 at 17:38

Jake Sellers

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4 Comments

Rudolf Mühlbauer Over a year ago

great answer, if you don't care about memory footprint. you could also add a type-identifier enum { IS_FLOAT, IS_STRING, ... } to identify the type at runtime.

Tom Kerr Over a year ago

How would they know which value to use? boost::optional might help?

Mooing Duck Over a year ago

@RudolfMühlbauer: I don't think he's recommending a union-like thing, he's actually recommending a rethinking of what it means to put multiple objects in an array (as an object)

Rudolf Mühlbauer Over a year ago

@MooingDuck yes, i know. still you might be interested to get the actual (inner) type at runtime. i was just suggesting, what seems as 'next steps' to me.

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