How to print out a vector which holds objects? - c++

Question

This question stems from a larger code I am working on but hopefully I can break it down to simplify:
Say I have two classes, one which holds 2 integer variables, and another which contains a vector that holds the first class
class TwoInts {
int num1;
int num2;
}
class NumHold {
std::vector<TwoInts> numVector;
}
How would I go about printing my numHold class exactly? I know I would have to provide an overloaded stream operator
std::ostream &operator<< (std::ostream &out, const NumHold &myNumHold){;}
But I'm a little confused as to the syntax regarding how I would print out these integers from the vector. I also understand that in order for the stream operator to work I would have to add it to my class as a friend, I just wanted to keep my NumHold class as simplified as possible for the examples sake. Hopefully this was clear enough of an explanation, any help is appreciated

Answer 1

Treat out how you would treat std::cout, then return it at the end of the function:
std::ostream& operator<<(std::ostream& out, const NumHold &myNumHold){
//one possible output format
for(const auto& twoInt : myNumHold.numVector){
out << twoInt.num1 << ", " << twoInt.num2 << '\n'; //pretend out is std::cout
}
return out; //don't forget to return it at the end
}
If appropriate, declare the overload as a friend function within the NumHold class:
#include<iostream>
class NumHold {
private:
std::vector<TwoInts> numVector;
public:
//friend operator overload declaration
friend std::ostream& operator<<(std::ostream& out, const NumHold& myNumHold);
};
In your example, it is appropriate, as the overload function accesses private variables.

Answer 2

You need to be able to access the members of each TwoInts in order to print them. One way to do this is to make them public.
class TwoInts {
public: //lets NumHold access variables to print
int num1;
int num2;
};
class NumHold {
public:
std::vector<TwoInts> numVector;
friend std::ostream& operator << (std::ostream& out, const NumHold& myNumHold) {
for (const TwoInts& ti : myNumHold.numVector) {
out << "(" << ti.num1 << ", " << ti.num2 << ")" << std::endl;
}
return out;
}
};

Answer 3

You can also consider adding printing methods to your classes:
#include<iostream>
class TwoInts {
private:
int num1;
int num2;
public:
void printnum1(){
std::cout << num1;
}
void printnum2(){
std::cout << num2;
}
}
class NumHold {
private:
std::vector<TwoInts> numVector;
public:
//this function prints the private attributes of the class
void printnumVector(){
for (int i = 0; i < numVector.size(); i++){
std::cout << numVector[i].printnum1() << " " << numVector[i].printnum2() << std::endl;
}
}
};