Return an iterator

[Allerdyce.John]

Hi,

When I return an iterator, should I return an iterator, or should I
return a reference to the iterator?

for example:
vector<A> aVector;

Should it be:
vector<A>::Iterator getBeginIterator() {
aVector.begin();
}

or

vector<A>::Iterator& getBeginIterator() {
aVector.begin();
}

[Pete Becker]

Al************@gmail.com wrote:

Hi,

When I return an iterator, should I return an iterator, or should I
return a reference to the iterator?

for example:
vector<A> aVector;

Should it be:
vector<A>::Iterator getBeginIterator() {
aVector.begin();
}

or

vector<A>::Iterator& getBeginIterator() {
aVector.begin();
}

What happened when you tried it? (Hint: one of these has a serious
error, and understanding that error will answer your question)

--

Pete Becker
Dinkumware, Ltd. (http://www.dinkumware.com)

[Alan Johnson]

Alan Johnson wrote:

for example:
vector<A> aVector;

Should it be:
vector<A>::Iterator getBeginIterator() {
aVector.begin();
}

Except for capitalization, this is correct.

And, perhaps, the fact that you didn't actually include a return statement.

-Alan

[Alan Johnson]

Al************@gmail.com wrote:

Hi,

When I return an iterator, should I return an iterator, or should I
return a reference to the iterator?

for example:
vector<A> aVector;

Should it be:
vector<A>::Iterator getBeginIterator() {
aVector.begin();
}

Except for capitalization, this is correct.
or

vector<A>::Iterator& getBeginIterator() {
aVector.begin();
}

If you have a reference, it must refer to some object. To what object
does the returned reference refer? If your answer is: The iterator
returned by aVector.begin(), then what happens to that iterator when the
getBeginIterator() function ends?

-Alan