Create a contiguous dynamic matrix - c++

Question

Arrays have this nice property of being contiguous blocks of memory. When using new to allocate memory for an array, it returns a pointer to a contiguous block of memory. However, if I allocate a matrix using new, like this:
#include <iostream> //std::cin
int main()
{
int n, m;
std::cin >> n >> m;
int** mat = new int*[n];
for (int i = 0; i < n; i++)
mat[i] = new int[m];
//use the matrix in some way
for (int i = 0; i < n; i++)
delete[] mat[i];
delete[] mat;
return 0;
}
This works, but mat doesn't point to a contiguous block of size n * m * sizeof(int). How can I do this in C++? I am just complying to the latest standard (that is C++17) and nothing else. I want an answer that doesn't involve STL containers or external libraries.
Please don't answer about C, as that is pretty easy to do in both C99 and C11 using variable-length arrays:
#include <stdio.h> //scanf
#include <stdlib.h> //malloc, free
int main()
{
int n, m;
scanf("%d %d", &n, &m);
//int mat[n][m]; VLA, but I want dynamic
int (*mat)[m] = malloc(n * sizeof *mat);
//use the matrix in some way;
free(mat);
return 0;
}

Answer 1

Here's what you were doing, almost exactly the same but without the non-contiguous memory:
#include <iostream> //std::cin
#include <memory>
int main()
{
int n, m;
std::cin >> n >> m;
auto matrix_data = std::make_unique<int[]>(n * m);
auto mat = std::make_unique<int[]>(n);
for(int i = 0; i < n; i++) { mat[i] = matrix_data.get() + i * m; }
// Use the matrix in some way
// No need to free anything - we're using smart pointers.
// No need to return 0 from main - that's the default
}
Notes:
This is still ugly code... you'd likely better create a proper matrix class, or better still - use somebody else's implementation.
It is better to follow #Someprogrammerdude's suggestion and use arithmetic rather than an array of pointers.

Answer 2

I kind of still don't know what particularly are you asking for. To store matrix elements in a contiguous location, simply allocate the memory for them as a one-dimensional dynamic array. The two basic options have been already discussed, either use a vector:
std::vector<int> mat(m * n);
or, if its memory overhead is significant for you, use a unique pointer:
auto mat = std::make_unique<int[]>(m * n);
Then, to access an element with i row index and j column index, simply use:
a_i_j = mat[i * n + j];
assuming m is the number of rows and n is the number of columns. This formula stores elements in so-called row-major order. If you need the column-major order, switch to:
a_i_j = mat[j * m + i];
Of course, whole approach would be much better encapsulated in a class with some getter operator mat(i, j);.

Answer 3

Here is a 2D matrix class that enables m[i][j] support and has a contiguous storage. It contains a minimalistic set of member functions to create and access elements.
It's a shame that the STD library does not provide such functionality. [i][j] element access is way less error prone than index arithmetics.
#include <cstddef>
#include <vector>
template <typename T>
class matrix
{
public:
using value_type = T;
private:
class row_view
{
public:
constexpr row_view(size_t length, value_type *begin)
: _length(length),
_begin(begin)
{}
value_type &operator[](size_t i) {
// TODO: check bounds
return *std::next(_begin, i);
}
const value_type &operator[](size_t i) const {
// TODO: check bounds
return *std::next(_begin, i);
}
size_t size() const {
return _length;
}
private:
size_t _length;
value_type *_begin;
};
public:
matrix(size_t rows, size_t cols, value_type &&defaultVal)
: _rows(rows),
_array(rows * cols, std::move(defaultVal))
{}
matrix(size_t rows, size_t cols)
: matrix(rows, cols, value_type{})
{}
size_t rows() const noexcept {
return _rows;
}
size_t cols() const noexcept {
return _array.size() / _rows;
}
auto operator[](size_t rowIndex) -> row_view{
const size_t offset = cols() * rowIndex;
return {cols(), &_array[offset]};
}
auto operator[](size_t rowIndex) const -> const row_view{
const size_t offset = cols() * rowIndex;
return {cols(), &_array[offset]};
}
private:
size_t _rows;
std::vector<value_type> _array;
};
https://godbolt.org/z/qoG6jGbh5