Is it possible to have an array with int values and int references?

Question

Is there any other way to have an array arr such that when you print arr[1] it always prints the value of arr[0] (without having to update arr[1] when arr[0] is modified) ?

An array has to contain elements of the same type. `int` and `int&` are different, so no — kmdreko, May 13 '16 at 14:46
This sounds like an [XY problem](http://meta.stackexchange.com/questions/66377/what-is-the-xy-problem). Please detail your actual problem. — TartanLlama, May 13 '16 at 14:47
You can't have an array of **any** references. You can have an array of reference wrappers, which are pointers in disguise. — SergeyA, May 13 '16 at 14:47
Slightly tricky. You could define an array of integers and static cast the members. Problem is, an address on a 64 bit system is, well 64 bit and standard integer only 32 bit. Otherwise define your own class and overload the [] operator. Nevertheless even though this should accomplish what you want, I do not find it particularly useful — Mohammed Li, May 13 '16 at 15:10

score 0 · Answer 1 · edited May 23 '17 at 12:31

No, but you may have such a desired array:

#include <iostream>
using namespace std;

class CIntRef
{
public:
    CIntRef(const int & ref) : ref(ref) {}
    operator const int &() { return ref; }
    const int& operator=(const int &i) {
        const_cast<int&>(ref) = i;
        return ref;
    }
private:
    const int & ref;
};

int main()
{
    int a = 2;
    CIntRef arr[] = { a, a, 0, 1 };
    cout << arr[1] << endl; // <-- prints: 2
    arr[0] = 3;
    cout << arr[1] << endl; // <-- prints: 3
    return 0;
}

Is it possible to have an array with int values and int references?

1 Answers1