overloading [][]

[Andre]

Hi,

I have a class which contains a two-dimensional array. I need to
overload something like the [][] operator so that I'm able to access the
internal array elements via the class object. For example:

Matrix a = new Matrix(10,10);

a[1][1] = 6;

Is this possible? How can I simulate a two dimensional array using a
class in c++? Thanks

-Andre

[John Harrison]

"Andre" <fo********@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:3f******@clarion.carno.net.au...

Hi,

I have a class which contains a two-dimensional array. I need to
overload something like the [][] operator so that I'm able to access the
internal array elements via the class object. For example:

Matrix a = new Matrix(10,10);

a[1][1] = 6;

Is this possible? How can I simulate a two dimensional array using a
class in c++? Thanks

-Andre

There is no operator[][], there is only the operator[]. You can do what you
want with a proxy class, something like this

class Proxy
{
public:
double operator[](int j) const;
double& operator[](int j);
};

class Matrix
{
public:
const Proxy operator[](int i) const;
Proxy operator[](int i);
};

I hope you get the idea, you overload operator[] on your Matrix object to
return another class (the Proxy class), you then overload operator[] on the
proxy class to return a Matrix element.

john

[Andre]

Neat :) thatnks, I get the idea.

cheers

-Andre

John Harrison wrote:

"Andre" <fo********@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:3f******@clarion.carno.net.au...

Hi,

I have a class which contains a two-dimensional array. I need to
overload something like the [][] operator so that I'm able to access the
internal array elements via the class object. For example:

Matrix a = new Matrix(10,10);

a[1][1] = 6;

Is this possible? How can I simulate a two dimensional array using a
class in c++? Thanks

-Andre

There is no operator[][], there is only the operator[]. You can do what you
want with a proxy class, something like this

class Proxy
{
public:
double operator[](int j) const;
double& operator[](int j);
};

class Matrix
{
public:
const Proxy operator[](int i) const;
Proxy operator[](int i);
};

I hope you get the idea, you overload operator[] on your Matrix object to
return another class (the Proxy class), you then overload operator[] on the
proxy class to return a Matrix element.

john

[Sim]

Just wondering.. what does they "const" in front of a function do:

double operator[](int j) const;

Thanks

Sim
John Harrison wrote:

"Andre" <fo********@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:3f******@clarion.carno.net.au...

Hi,

I have a class which contains a two-dimensional array. I need to
overload something like the [][] operator so that I'm able to access the
internal array elements via the class object. For example:

Matrix a = new Matrix(10,10);

a[1][1] = 6;

Is this possible? How can I simulate a two dimensional array using a
class in c++? Thanks

-Andre

There is no operator[][], there is only the operator[]. You can do what you
want with a proxy class, something like this

class Proxy
{
public:
double operator[](int j) const;
double& operator[](int j);
};

class Matrix
{
public:
const Proxy operator[](int i) const;
Proxy operator[](int i);
};

I hope you get the idea, you overload operator[] on your Matrix object to
return another class (the Proxy class), you then overload operator[] on the
proxy class to return a Matrix element.

john

[John Harrison]

"Sim" <si***@no.com> wrote in message
news:3f********@clarion.carno.net.au...

Just wondering.. what does they "const" in front of a function do:

double operator[](int j) const;

Thanks

Sim

It means that the function does not modify the object and therefore that the
function can be called on a const object.

E.g.

struct X
{
void f();
void g() const;
};

const X x;
x.f(); // error
x.g(); // ok

Functions which do not modify objects should almost always be declared
const. const objects don't get used much, but const references are very
common.

john

[Immanuel Albrecht]

"John Harrison" <jo*************@hotmail.com> wrote in
news:bi************@ID-196037.news.uni-berlin.de:

"Andre" <fo********@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:3f******@clarion.carno.net.au...

Hi,

I have a class which contains a two-dimensional array. I need to
overload something like the [][] operator so that I'm able to access
the internal array elements via the class object. For example:

Matrix a = new Matrix(10,10);

a[1][1] = 6;

Is this possible? How can I simulate a two dimensional array using a
class in c++? Thanks

-Andre

There is no operator[][], there is only the operator[]. You can do
what you want with a proxy class, something like this

class Proxy
{
public:
double operator[](int j) const;

const double& double& operator[](int j);
};

class Matrix
{
public:
const Proxy operator[](int i) const; ^^^^^
const Proxy & and Proxy operator[](int i); Proxy& will have better performance, plus, you can have the
proxyclass save a reference to your data matrix-row and I would make this
class inside the Matrix namespace to avoid name collisions with other
Proxy classes for different multi-dimensional arrays. };

References combined with inline functions will have improved performance,
since there will be no copy-constructor and destructor calls, less
overhead.

[Sim]

Thanks. That clears it :-)

Sim

Gianni Mariani wrote:

Sim wrote:

Just wondering.. what does they "const" in front of a function do:

double operator[](int j) const;

It declares that the method does not alter any "non mutable" object state.

e.g.

struct A {
int a;
mutable int b;
void doer_a() const
{
a = 3; // illegal;
}
void doer_b() const
{
b = 3; // legal;
}
};

[Sim]

The topic seemed interesting so I gave it a try myself. I can't get my
proxy class running. I get a number of errors when I do something like:

matrixA[0][0] = 5.0;

or std::cout << matrixA[0][0];

I simply did a:

const Proxy operator[](int i) const {
return this->proxy[i];
}

Proxy operator[](int i) {
return this->proxy[i];
}

and in proxy I did:

double operator[](int j) const {
return matrix->[j];
}
double& operator[](int j) {
return matrix->[j];
}

and I had my two-dim array in the proxy class:

double **matrix;
What am I doing wrong? Andre if you got it working could you help me out?

thanks

Sim
Immanuel Albrecht wrote:

"John Harrison" <jo*************@hotmail.com> wrote in
news:bi************@ID-196037.news.uni-berlin.de:

"Andre" <fo********@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:3f******@clarion.carno.net.au...

Hi,

I have a class which contains a two-dimensional array. I need to
overload something like the [][] operator so that I'm able to access
the internal array elements via the class object. For example:

Matrix a = new Matrix(10,10);

a[1][1] = 6;

Is this possible? How can I simulate a two dimensional array using a
class in c++? Thanks

-Andre

There is no operator[][], there is only the operator[]. You can do
what you want with a proxy class, something like this

class Proxy
{
public:
double operator[](int j) const;

const double&

double& operator[](int j);
};

class Matrix
{
public:
const Proxy operator[](int i) const;

^^^^^
const Proxy & and

Proxy operator[](int i);

Proxy& will have better performance, plus, you can have the
proxyclass save a reference to your data matrix-row and I would make this
class inside the Matrix namespace to avoid name collisions with other
Proxy classes for different multi-dimensional arrays.

};

References combined with inline functions will have improved performance,
since there will be no copy-constructor and destructor calls, less
overhead.

[John Harrison]

"Immanuel Albrecht" <xr*****@gmx.de> wrote in message
news:bi*************@news.t-online.com...

"John Harrison" <jo*************@hotmail.com> wrote in
news:bi************@ID-196037.news.uni-berlin.de:

"Andre" <fo********@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:3f******@clarion.carno.net.au...

Hi,

I have a class which contains a two-dimensional array. I need to
overload something like the [][] operator so that I'm able to access
the internal array elements via the class object. For example:

Matrix a = new Matrix(10,10);

a[1][1] = 6;

Is this possible? How can I simulate a two dimensional array using a
class in c++? Thanks

-Andre

There is no operator[][], there is only the operator[]. You can do
what you want with a proxy class, something like this

class Proxy
{
public:
double operator[](int j) const;

const double&

double& operator[](int j);
};

class Matrix
{
public:
const Proxy operator[](int i) const;

^^^^^
const Proxy & and

Proxy operator[](int i);

Proxy& will have better performance,

If you return a reference, then you have to have an object to refer to.
Where do you propose to store that object? I think its well known that this
scheme is impossible to implement correctly and safely. See for instance
Effective C++ by Scott Meyer who gives all the various flawed possibilities
a good going over.

Unless of course you have some code that shows differently ...

john

[John Harrison]

"Sim" <si***@no.com> wrote in message
news:3f********@clarion.carno.net.au...

The topic seemed interesting so I gave it a try myself. I can't get my
proxy class running. I get a number of errors when I do something like:

matrixA[0][0] = 5.0;

or std::cout << matrixA[0][0];

I simply did a:

const Proxy operator[](int i) const {
return this->proxy[i];
}

Proxy operator[](int i) {
return this->proxy[i];
}

and in proxy I did:

double operator[](int j) const {
return matrix->[j];
}
double& operator[](int j) {
return matrix->[j];
}

and I had my two-dim array in the proxy class:

double **matrix;
What am I doing wrong? Andre if you got it working could you help me out?

Well the two dim array is supposed to be in the Matrix class. The proxy
class just hold a reference to the matrix and the first index.

Something like this (untested code)

class Matrix;

class Proxy
{
friend class Matrix;
double& operator[](int j) { return m.matrix[i][j]; }
private:
Proxy(Matrix& mm, int ii) : m(mm), i(ii) {}
Matrix& m;
int i;
};

class Matrix
{
friend class Proxy;
public:
Proxy operator[](int i) { return Proxy(*this, i); }
private:
double** matrix;
};

Basically the Proxy class just holds the parameters used in the first
operator[] call, so that when the second operator[] call happens they are
available to get the element from the Matrix.

john
thanks

Sim
Immanuel Albrecht wrote:

"John Harrison" <jo*************@hotmail.com> wrote in
news:bi************@ID-196037.news.uni-berlin.de:

"Andre" <fo********@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:3f******@clarion.carno.net.au...

Hi,

I have a class which contains a two-dimensional array. I need to
overload something like the [][] operator so that I'm able to access
the internal array elements via the class object. For example:

Matrix a = new Matrix(10,10);

a[1][1] = 6;

Is this possible? How can I simulate a two dimensional array using a
class in c++? Thanks

-Andre
There is no operator[][], there is only the operator[]. You can do
what you want with a proxy class, something like this

class Proxy
{
public:
double operator[](int j) const;

const double&

double& operator[](int j);
};

class Matrix
{
public:
const Proxy operator[](int i) const;

^^^^^
const Proxy & and

Proxy operator[](int i);

Proxy& will have better performance, plus, you can have the
proxyclass save a reference to your data matrix-row and I would make this class inside the Matrix namespace to avoid name collisions with other
Proxy classes for different multi-dimensional arrays.

};

References combined with inline functions will have improved performance, since there will be no copy-constructor and destructor calls, less
overhead.

[Immanuel Albrecht]

"John Harrison" <jo*************@hotmail.com> wrote in
news:bi************@ID-196037.news.uni-berlin.de:

First of all, sorry for being late, I was at vacation...

If you return a reference, then you have to have an object to refer
to. Where do you propose to store that object? Of course, in your Matrix class your object should be stored. I think its well known
that this scheme is impossible to implement correctly and safely. See
for instance Effective C++ by Scott Meyer who gives all the various
flawed possibilities a good going over.
I'm sorry, but I haven't read this book.
Unless of course you have some code that shows differently ...

So what's wrong with e.g. this:
#include <iostream>
#include <ostream>

#include <vector>

template <int rows,int cols> class Matrix
{
private:
double mat[rows][cols];
public:
class Proxy {
private:
Matrix* m;
int row;

friend class Matrix;

void SetRow(int r)
{ row = r;}

void SetMat(Matrix* matrix)
{ m = matrix;}

public:
Proxy() {}

const double& operator [](int i) const;
double& operator [](int i);

};

friend class Proxy;
private:
std::vector<Proxy> prox;

public:

Matrix() : prox(rows)
{
for (unsigned int r=0;r<rows;r++)
{
prox[r].SetRow(r);
prox[r].SetMat(this);
}
}

const Proxy& operator[] (int i) const
{
return prox[i];
}

Proxy& operator[] (int i)
{
return prox[i];
}

};

template <int rows, int cols>
const double& Matrix<rows,cols>::Proxy::operator[](int i) const
{
return m->mat[row][i];
}

template <int rows, int cols>
double& Matrix<rows,cols>::Proxy::operator[](int i)
{
return m->mat[row][i];
}

int main()
{
Matrix<4,4> m;

for (unsigned int r=0;r<4;r++)
for (unsigned int c=0;c<4;c++)
{
std::cout << r << " " << c <<std::endl;
m[r][c] = r+c;
}

for (unsigned int r=0;r<4;r++)
{
for (unsigned int c=0;c<4;c++)
std::cout << m[r][c] << " ";

std::cout << std::endl;
}
return 0;
}

[John Harrison]

"Immanuel Albrecht" <xr*****@gmx.de> wrote in message
news:bi*************@news.t-online.com...

"John Harrison" <jo*************@hotmail.com> wrote in
news:bi************@ID-196037.news.uni-berlin.de:

First of all, sorry for being late, I was at vacation...

If you return a reference, then you have to have an object to refer
to. Where do you propose to store that object?

Of course, in your Matrix class your object should be stored.

I think its well known
that this scheme is impossible to implement correctly and safely. See
for instance Effective C++ by Scott Meyer who gives all the various
flawed possibilities a good going over.

I'm sorry, but I haven't read this book.

Unless of course you have some code that shows differently ...

So what's wrong with e.g. this:
#include <iostream>
#include <ostream>

#include <vector>

template <int rows,int cols> class Matrix
{
private:
double mat[rows][cols];
public:
class Proxy {
private:
Matrix* m;
int row;

friend class Matrix;

void SetRow(int r)
{ row = r;}

void SetMat(Matrix* matrix)
{ m = matrix;}

public:
Proxy() {}

const double& operator [](int i) const;
double& operator [](int i);

};

friend class Proxy;
private:
std::vector<Proxy> prox;

public:

Matrix() : prox(rows)
{
for (unsigned int r=0;r<rows;r++)
{
prox[r].SetRow(r);
prox[r].SetMat(this);
}
}

const Proxy& operator[] (int i) const
{
return prox[i];
}

Proxy& operator[] (int i)
{
return prox[i];
}

};

template <int rows, int cols>
const double& Matrix<rows,cols>::Proxy::operator[](int i) const
{
return m->mat[row][i];
}

template <int rows, int cols>
double& Matrix<rows,cols>::Proxy::operator[](int i)
{
return m->mat[row][i];
}

int main()
{
Matrix<4,4> m;

for (unsigned int r=0;r<4;r++)
for (unsigned int c=0;c<4;c++)
{
std::cout << r << " " << c <<std::endl;
m[r][c] = r+c;
}

for (unsigned int r=0;r<4;r++)
{
for (unsigned int c=0;c<4;c++)
std::cout << m[r][c] << " ";

std::cout << std::endl;
}
return 0;
}

Well you've answered my point

If you return a reference, then you have to have an object to refer
to. Where do you propose to store that object?

by creating a vector of proxys. But that's an overhead for every matrix to
carry around. Arguably its a small amount of space compared to the matrix as
a whole. Whether your method is better than copying the Proxy class as I
suggested would depend on the application I think. In any case, as John
Carson pointed out, this time the proxy class need only be a pointer, which
is better than both our methods.

john