Returning reference to vector from function

[Michele]

Hello:

What is the syntax for returning a reference to a vector from a function? I have a private vector and I want to return it using a public get function (like in the code below), but I believe that what I have will make a copy of the vector, and my real vector is several hundred bytes. Do I have to cast it as a constant? What is the syntax for that (or where does one look)?

Sorry if these are basic questions - alas, I've been scouring the internet for several days now!!!

Many thanks for any assistance you can offer!

Michele

#include <string>
#include <vector>
#include "VectorThing.h"
using namespace std;
 
VectorThing::VectorThing()
{
        vect.push_back("macaroni");
        vect.push_back("cheese");
 
}
 
vector <string> VectorThing::getVector()
{
        return vect;
}
 
And this is my header file:
 
#include <string>
#include <vector>
using namespace std;
 
class VectorThing
{
        public:
                VectorThing();
                vector <string> getVector();
 
        private:
                vector <string> vect;
 
};

[sicarie]

Please use code tags around your code - it helps greatly with readability.

Why not just declare the vector locally?

[horace1]

try using &, e.g.

vector <string>  & VectorThing::getVector()
{
        return vect;
}
 

but this will give read/write access to the vector from outside the class, e.g.

    vector<string> &v1=v.getVector();
    cout << v1[0] << endl;
    v1[1]="salad";
 

You could return a constant reference

const vector <string>  & VectorThing::getVector()
{
        return vect;
}
 

which would give read access but not write

[Michele]

Thanks!!! That is exactly what I was looking for. I was trying some version of that but I thought I had to cast the vector to return it as a constant. But as it compiles I see now that I don't!

Thanks!
Michele