Checking if an index of an array is empty - c++

I'm currently trying to write a script so that I can add an item to the last index the array has an item in. For example, if I initialized an array int a[5] and a[0], a[1], a[2] all have something, then the integer would be added to a[3]Here is what I have :
int main(){
int a[5];
a[0] = 10;
a[1] = 20;
a[2] = 30;
for (int i = 0; i < 5; i++){
if (a[i] < 0){
a[i] = 40; //Just an example for what it would be like.
}
}
}
I can't help but feel that there is a better way to do this, maybe a different if condition. I want to know if there's another way to check if the next index is empty.

You could use an array index counter. Say, int counter = 0;
Use the counter as an index when you store integers to the array a, like a[counter] = 5 After you add an integer to your array, increment the counter, counter++.
This way you could make sure that the next value being added to the array is always added the way you described in the question

A few things to probably clear up what looks like a misunderstanding around what an array is:
When you declare an array say
int main()
{
int a[5];
for (int i = 0; i < 5; i++)
{
printf("a[%d] = %d", i, a[i]);
}
}
All elements in the array exist already. Namely, you can access a[0] ... a[4] without hitting an error. All values of the array have already been set implicitly and you can see this by seeing the output of the printf. Note that those are values that you haven't set yourself and will vary. If you're curious about why they vary, you can see this: Variable initialization in C++
To set those values explicitly, you can initialize all values in the array to 0 like so:
int main()
{
int a[5] = {0};
for (int i = 0; i < 5; i++)
{
printf("a[%d] = %d", i, a[i]);
}
}
or through use of a static initializer
int main()
{
int a[5] = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5};
for (int i = 0; i < 5; i++)
{
printf("a[%d] = %d", i, a[i]);
}
}
However because all values of the array already exist on creation, there isn't really such a state as "uninitialized array" in C++ as they are . The value of a[3] is either set implicitly or explicitly depending on how you created the array.
std::vector is a dynamically growing array, based on how much space you need. In order to have this effect, std::vector keeps track of how much of the array is "used" through use of a size variable. If you wanted to reimplement that to get an idea of how it might be done, you would probably want a class like:
class MyArray
{
public:
MyArray() : m_size(0)
{
}
void AddVal(int data)
{
if (m_size < 5)
{
m_array[m_size++] = data;
}
}
int GetSize()
{
return m_size;
}
private:
int m_array[5];
int m_size;
}

If you initialize the array to 0, you can check if the value is 0.
Initilize:
int array[5] = {0};
Check for 0:
array[4] == 0;

Related

Merging two sorted array on third by creating a new array on heap

I have a class array inside which I have declared an array its size and length. I am trying to merge two sorted arrays by creating the third array on the heap and both the sorted array will be merged on the third array. But whenever I create a new arr on heap the compiler gives me this error: request for member '..' in '..' which is of non-class type
class Array
{
public:
int A[10];
int length;
int Size;
};
void display(Array arr)
{
int i;
for(i=0;i<arr.length;i++)
{
cout<<arr.A[i]<<" ";
}
}
void Merge(Array *arr1,Array *arr2)
{
int i,j,k;
i=j=k=0;
int *arr3;
arr3=new int[10];
while(i<arr1->length && j<arr2->length)
{
if(arr1->A[i]<arr2->A[j])
arr3->A[k++]=arr1->A[i++];
else
arr3->A[k++]=arr2->A[j++];
}
for(;i<arr1->length;i++)
{
arr3->A[k++]=arr1->A[i];
}
for(;j<arr2->length;j++)
{
arr3->A[k++]=arr1->A[j];
}
}
int main()
{
Array arr1{{1,3,5,7},4,4};
Array arr2{{2,4,6,8},4,4};
Array *arr3;
arr3=Merge(&arr1,&arr2);
display(*arr3);
return 0;
}
The root cause of all your problems is that you use C-Style array with a magical size 10. Like in int A[10];. This is a major problem and should be avoided in C++.
Additionally, and the same, In C++ we usually do not use raw pointer for owned memories or newand such stuff.
Anyway. The design will never work, if the number of elements in both Array classes is greater then 5. Because then you will definitely get an out of bounds problem.
You must use a std::vector.
So, all bad. But I know that I will hear now, that the teacher said, no vector but new. The teacher should be fired or begin to teach C instead of C++.
Anyway again, I will fix the major bugs for you. But the sorting algorithm will work neither.
So,
If you want to return an Array, then change the signature of your function aand return an Array.
You do want to have a new Array, not new intes. So, please allocate a new Array instead.
Do not forget to release the newed Arrary at then end.
Set size and length of the new array.
Refactor your complete code.
Code example with some fixes:
#include <iostream>
class Array
{
public:
int A[10];
int length;
int Size;
};
void display(Array arr)
{
int i;
for (i = 0; i < arr.length; i++)
{
std::cout << arr.A[i] << " ";
}
}
Array* Merge(Array* arr1, Array* arr2)
{
int i, j, k;
i = j = k = 0;
Array *arr3 = new Array;
while (i < arr1->length && j < arr2->length)
{
if (arr1->A[i] < arr2->A[j])
arr3->A[k++] = arr1->A[i++];
else
arr3->A[k++] = arr2->A[j++];
}
for (; i < arr1->length; i++)
{
arr3->A[k++] = arr1->A[i];
}
for (; j < arr2->length; j++)
{
arr3->A[k++] = arr1->A[j];
}
arr3->length = arr1->length + arr2->length;
return arr3;
}
int main()
{
Array arr1{ {1,3,5,7},4,4 };
Array arr2{ {2,4,6,8},4,4 };
Array* arr3;
arr3 = Merge(&arr1, &arr2);
display(*arr3);
delete[]arr3;
return 0;
}

why do we need to create an auxiliary array to rearrange it?

i'm new to c++ and working through the problem of rearranging a sorted array in O(n) time so that first comes the maximum element, then the minimum, then the second max, then the second min, so it goes.
my solution doesn't pass the tests without an auxiliary array result to which I then copy over my values - see below for the initial and the working solutions:
// initial:
void maxMin(int arr[], int size) {
bool switchPointer = true;
int min_ptr = 0;
int max_ptr = size - 1;
for (int i = 0; i < size; i++) {
if (switchPointer) {
arr[i] = arr[max_ptr];
max_ptr--;
} else {
arr[i] = arr[min_ptr];
min_ptr++;
}
switchPointer = !switchPointer;
}
}
// working
void maxMin(int arr[], int size) {
int* result = new int[size];
bool switchPointer = true;
int min_ptr = 0;
int max_ptr = size - 1;
for (int i = 0; i < size; i++) {
if (switchPointer) {
result[i] = arr[max_ptr];
max_ptr--;
} else {
result[i] = arr[min_ptr];
min_ptr++;
}
switchPointer = !switchPointer;
}
for (int j = 0; j < size; j++) {
arr[j] = result[j]; // copying to original array
}
delete [] result;
}
why do we need an auxiliary result array? thank you!
Because if you apply your algorithm "in-place" you will overwrite MIN values of your original array before you could use them. Imagine:
arr = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5}
expected result is {5, 1, 4, 2, 3}
in first iteration you will do arr[0] = arr[4] // arr[0] is equal to 5 now
in second iteration you will do arr[1] = arr[0] // but this is not what you want, because arr[0] was already changed and is not equal to "1" anymore
Usually you use temp variables when you need to read your original source of data and not the modified version. In your case I think the problem arises when you do
arr[i] = arr[max_ptr]; or arr[i] = arr[min_ptr]; in your non working example. In this case you modify the array and you read (arr[max_ptr]) the same overwritten array leading to inconsistencies in your algorithm. Using an auxiliary variable solves the issue since you read the original data but you store it somewhere else.

C++ pointer to int in loops?

Ok, so I'm quite new to C++ and I'm sure this question is already answered somewhere, and also is quite simple, but I can't seem to find the answer....
I have a custom array class, which I am using just as an exercise to try and get the hang of how things work which is defined as follows:
Header:
class Array {
private:
// Private variables
unsigned int mCapacity;
unsigned int mLength;
void **mData;
public:
// Public constructor/destructor
Array(unsigned int initialCapacity = 10);
// Public methods
void addObject(void *obj);
void removeObject(void *obj);
void *objectAtIndex(unsigned int index);
void *operator[](unsigned int index);
int indexOfObject(void *obj);
unsigned int getSize();
};
}
Implementation:
GG::Array::Array(unsigned int initialCapacity) : mCapacity(initialCapacity) {
// Allocate a buffer that is the required size
mData = new void*[initialCapacity];
// Set the length to 0
mLength = 0;
}
void GG::Array::addObject(void *obj) {
// Check if there is space for the new object on the end of the array
if (mLength == mCapacity) {
// There is not enough space so create a large array
unsigned int newCapacity = mCapacity + 10;
void **newArray = new void*[newCapacity];
mCapacity = newCapacity;
// Copy over the data from the old array
for (unsigned int i = 0; i < mLength; i++) {
newArray[i] = mData[i];
}
// Delete the old array
delete[] mData;
// Set the new array as mData
mData = newArray;
}
// Now insert the object at the end of the array
mData[mLength] = obj;
mLength++;
}
void GG::Array::removeObject(void *obj) {
// Attempt to find the object in the array
int index = this->indexOfObject(obj);
if (index >= 0) {
// Remove the object
mData[index] = nullptr;
// Move any object after it down in the array
for (unsigned int i = index + 1; i < mLength; i++) {
mData[i - 1] = mData[i];
}
// Decrement the length of the array
mLength--;
}
}
void *GG::Array::objectAtIndex(unsigned int index) {
if (index < mLength) return mData[index];
return nullptr;
}
void *GG::Array::operator[](unsigned int index) {
return this->objectAtIndex(index);
}
int GG::Array::indexOfObject(void *obj) {
// Iterate through the array and try to find the object
for (int i = 0; i < mLength; i++) {
if (mData[i] == obj) return i;
}
return -1;
}
unsigned int GG::Array::getSize() {
return mLength;
}
I'm trying to create an array of pointers to integers, a simplified version of this is as follows:
Array array = Array();
for (int i = 0; i < 2; i++) {
int j = i + 1;
array.addObject(&j);
}
Now the problem is that the same pointer is used for j in every iteration. So after the loop:
array[0] == array[1] == array[2];
I'm sure that this is expected behaviour, but it isn't quite what I want to happen, I want an array of different pointers to different ints. If anyone could point me in the right direction here it would be greatly appreciated! :) (I'm clearly misunderstanding how to use pointers!)
P.s. Thanks everyone for your responses. I have accepted the one that solved the problem that I was having!
I'm guessing you mean:
array[i] = &j;
In which case you're storing a pointer to a temporary. On each loop repitition j is allocated in the stack address on the stack, so &j yeilds the same value. Even if you were getting back different addresses your code would cause problems down the line as you're storing a pointer to a temporary.
Also, why use a void* array. If you actually just want 3 unique integers then just do:
std::vector<int> array(3);
It's much more C++'esque and removes all manner of bugs.
First of all this does not allocate an array of pointers to int
void *array = new void*[2];
It allocates an array of pointers to void.
You may not dereference a pointer to void as type void is incomplete type, It has an empty set of values. So this code is invalid
array[i] = *j;
And moreover instead of *j shall be &j Though in this case pointers have invalid values because would point memory that was destroyed because j is a local variable.
The loop is also wrong. Instead of
for (int i = 0; i < 3; i++) {
there should be
for (int i = 0; i < 2; i++) {
What you want is the following
int **array = new int *[2];
for ( int i = 0; i < 2; i++ )
{
int j = i + 1;
array[i] = new int( j );
}
And you can output objects it points to
for ( int i = 0; i < 2; i++ )
{
std::cout << *array[i] << std::endl;
}
To delete the pointers you can use the following code snippet
for ( int i = 0; i < 2; i++ )
{
delete array[i];
}
delete []array;
EDIT: As you changed your original post then I also will append in turn my post.
Instead of
Array array = Array();
for (int i = 0; i < 2; i++) {
int j = i + 1;
array.addObject(&j);
}
there should be
Array array;
for (int i = 0; i < 2; i++) {
int j = i + 1;
array.addObject( new int( j ) );
}
Take into account that either you should define copy/move constructors and assignment operators or define them as deleted.
There are lots of problems with this code.
The declaration void* array = new void*[2] creates an array of 2 pointers-to-pointer-to-void, indexed 0 and 1. You then try to write into elements 0, 1 and 2. This is undefined behaviour
You almost certainly don't want a void pointer to an array of pointer-to-pointer-to-void. If you really want an array of pointer-to-integer, then you want int** array = new int*[2];. Or probably just int *array[2]; unless you really need the array on the heap.
j is the probably in the same place each time through the loop - it will likely be allocated in the same place on the stack - so &j is the same address each time. In any case, j will go out of scope when the loop's finished, and the address(es) will be invalid.
What are you actually trying to do? There may well be a better way.
if you simply do
int *array[10];
your array variable can decay to a pointer to the first element of the list, you can reference the i-th integer pointer just by doing:
int *myPtr = *(array + i);
which is in fact just another way to write the more common form:
int *myPtr = array[i];
void* is not the same as int*. void* represent a void pointer which is a pointer to a specific memory area without any additional interpretation or assuption about the data you are referencing to
There are some problems:
1) void *array = new void*[2]; is wrong because you want an array of pointers: void *array[2];
2)for (int i = 0; i < 3; i++) { : is wrong because your array is from 0 to 1;
3)int j = i + 1; array[i] = *j; j is an automatic variable, and the content is destroyed at each iteration. This is why you got always the same address. And also, to take the address of a variable you need to use &

How to delete an Array with negative integers

I was trying to solve the following problem,
Given an array of integers, every element appears three times except
for one. Find that single one.
When the input are all positive, I will not get any errors, but when the input contains negative integers, the line delete index; will give error, does anybody know why?
i.e.
A[] = {1,2,3,4,1,2,3,4,1,3,4} works fine, but A[] = {-2,-2,1,1,-3,1,-3,-3,-4,-2} does not.
The code is as follow,
#include <iostream>
#include <map>
class Solution {
public:
int singleNumber(int A[], int n) {
// IMPORTANT: Please reset any member data you declared, as
// the same Solution instance will be reused for each test case.
int *index;
std::map<int, int> m;
index = new signed int[(n+1)/3];
int flag = 0;
int result;
for(int i=0; i<n; i++) {
if(m.find(A[i]) == m.end()) {
m[A[i]] = 1;
index[flag] = A[i];
flag++;
} else {
m[A[i]] = m[A[i]] + 1;
}
}
for(int i=0; i<(n+1)/3; i++) {
if(m[index[i]] != 3) {
result = index[i];
}
}
delete index;
return result;
}
};
int main()
{
Solution s;
int A[] = {1,2,3,4,1,2,3,4,1,3,4};
int result = s.singleNumber(A, 11);
std::cout <<result;
return 0;
}
The first array contains 11 elements, which causes the line index = new signed int[(n+1)/3]; to allocate an array of (11+1)/3 = 4 elements. The second array contains 10 elements, which causes that line to allocate an array of (10+1)/3 = 3 elements.
3 elements is insufficient to record the unique values in A (-4, -3, -2, and 1), so you overflow the array.
You should allocate at least (n+2)/3 elements. It would also be prudent to test the value of flag to ensure it never exceeds the array bounds. It will not if the input array obeys the constraint that every element but one appears three times (presuming this means it will appear one or two times, not four or more), but can you rely on that constraint being obeyed?
Additionally, the loop for(int i=0; i<(n+2)/3; i++) is insufficient to iterate through all the elements that were added to the map. You should be sure you iterate through all the members of m.
Incidentally, singleNumber can be implemented in a much more fun way without any dynamic allocation or library calls:
int singleNumber(int A[], int n) {
int b = 0, c = 0;
while (n--)
{
b ^= A[n] & c;
c ^= A[n] & ~b;
}
return c;
}
However, this is completely not what your instructor is expecting.

Passing 2D array of const size

How should an array of constant size:
const int m = 5, n = 3;
int arr[m][n];
be passed to a function in a way which is both C89 and C++-compatible?
void func(const int m, const int n, int arr[][n]) { }
isn't valid C++ (giving errors such as "A parameter is not allowed" and "Variable 'n' was not declared in this scope"), even though the size of arr is determinate at compile-time. (It is valid C, however.) #defineing m and n works but is not preferred due to scope issues. Passing a pointer to the first element of the array leads to ugly code in the function body.
Feel free to take a look at this FAQ for context.
In C++, you can pass an array to a function with full type information intact by utilizing a template and an array reference function argument:
template <unsigned M, unsigned N>
void func (int (&arr)[M][N]) {
//...
}
The function prototype you are using is using a C99 feature called VLA to provide a dynamic binding of the array dimension. This is not a C++ feature, although some C++ compilers will allow it as an extension to the C++ language.
The C-FAQ was written before C99 was ratified, so the variable length array feature was not yet a standard feature of C. With a modern C compiler with VLA support, the function prototype you provided works just fine.
There is another alternative to use if you have an older compiler for which VLA support is not available. That is to treat the 2-D array as a flattened 1-D array, and use manual calculations to index the correct integer:
void func(const int m, const int n, void *p) {
int *a = p;
int i, j;
for (i = 0; i < m; ++i) {
for (j = 0; j < n; ++j) {
printf(" %d", a[i*n + j]);
}
puts("");
}
}
Then you call func(m, n, arr). In side the function, the expression
a[i*n + j]
steps over n ints i times, then steps over j ints. Since each row is n ints long, the calculation returns the ith row and the jth column, which corresponds precisely to arr[i][j].
I have tried this code:
void func(const int m, const int n, int arr[][n])
{
printf("%d\n", arr[4][2]);
}
int main()
{
const int m = 5, n = 3;
int arr[m][n];
arr[4][2] = 10;
func(m, n, arr);
}
and this work with no warnings
Your array arr[m][n] is not constant. However you have constant variables M and N. You should also define the arr[m][n] as a constant and not just an int array.
You may want to consider dynamicaly allocating your array so that you can just pass the pointer address down.
const int m = 5, n = 3;
int i = 0;
int* *arr; //Pointer to an integer pointer (Note can also be int **arr or int** arr)
arr = malloc(sizeof(int*)*(m+1)); //I add one because I am assuming that 'm' does not account for the terminating null character. But if you do not need a terminating null then you can remove this and the perantheses around the 'm'.
for(i = 0; i < m; i++)
{
arr[i] = malloc(sizeof(int*)*(n+1)); //Same as before
}
The inital malloc() call allocates memory for an array of integer arrays or said in another way, it allocates a pointer to a series of other pointers. The for loop will allocate an integer array of 'm' size for each element of the original array or said another way it will allocate space for every pointer address pointed to by the original pointer address. I left out error checking in order to simplfy my example but here is the same example with error checking.
const int m = 5, n = 3;
int i = 0;
int* *arr = NULL;
if((arr = malloc(sizeof(int*)*(m+1))) == NULL)
{
perror("ERROR(1): Failed to allocate memory for the initial pointer address ");
return 1;
}
for(i = 0; i < m; i++)
{
if((arr = malloc(sizeof(int*)*(m+1))) == NULL)
{
perror("ERROR(2): Failed to allocate memory for a subsequent pointer address ");
return 2;
}
}
Now that you have dynamicaly allocated your array you can just pass the pointer address.
int* *arr in the following the way.
void fun(const int n, const int m, int* *arr) {}
Also you don't necessarily have to keep track of the size of your arrays if the sizes are constant and if you use null terminated arrays. You just have to malloc the array using the constant integer variable's actual value and then check for the terminating null byte when iterating threw the array.
int* *arr = NULL;
if((arr = malloc(sizeof(int*)*6)) == NULL)'m'+1 = 6;
{
perror("ERROR(1): Failed to allocate memory for the initial pointer address ");
return 1;
}
for(i = 0; i < m; i++)
{
if((arr = malloc(sizeof(int*)*4) == NULL)//'n'+1 = 4
{
perror("ERROR(2): Failed to allocate memory for a subsequent pointer address ");
return 2;
}
}
You can then display the entire two dimensional array in the following way. Note that '\000' is the octagonal value for a null byte(00000000).
int i, j;
for(i = 0; arr[i] != '\000'; i++)
{
for(j = 0; arr[i][j] != '\000'; j++)
{
printf("%i ", arr[i][j]); //Prints the current element of the current array
}
printf("\n"); //This just ends the line so that each of the arrays is printed on it's own line.
}
Of course the above mentioned loops would have the same result as the following.
int i, j;
int m = 5;
int n = 3;
for(i = 0; i < m; i++)
{
for(j = 0; i < n; j++)
{
printf("%i ", arr[i][j]); //Prints the current element of the current array
}
printf("\n"); //This just ends the line so that each of the arrays is printed on it's own line.
}
Which means, in most situations there is no need for keeping track of an array's size but there are situations in which it is necessary. For example if one your arrays could possible contain a null byte other than the terminating null byte. The new null byte would shorten the array's size to the index of the new null byte. If you have any questions or comments feel free to comment below or message me.
The problem here is the "missing" support for dynamic arrays in C++.
const int m = 5, n = 3;
int arr[m][n];
Works since m and n are compile time constant and accessible directly at the declaration of the array.
void func(const int m, const int n, int arr[][n]) { }
The compiler handles your function regardless of where it is called in first place.
Therefore n is unknown/variable and thus prohibited as a array dimensionality.
The following example won't work too because of the very same reason:
void foo (const int n)
{
int arr[n]; // error, n is const but not compile time constant
}
int main (void)
{
foo(4);
}
jxh answered what to do about it.