Different ways to initialize a vector in C++ STL

Reading time: 20 minutes | Coding time: 2 minutes

Vectors in C++ STL are same as the array in C++. The basic difference between a vector and an array is vectors are dynamic arrays with the facility to resize itself whenever a new element is pushed inside the vector or deleted from a vector unlike arrays which have predefined lengths.

Briefs about Vectors

• Dyanmic arrays present inside C++ STL library.
• Abitily to resize automatically.
• Stored in contiguous locations
• Accessed through iterators and pointers.

In this article, we take a look at different ways to initialize a vector in C++ Standard Template library including ways to use predefined array and vector to define a new vector.

Vector Initlialization Ways in C++

Let's say, We want to insert [10,20,30,40] in the vector. The following will be ways to initialize it.

• First way

In this way, we define a vector without a predefined size. he size increases dynamically in this case.

vector<int> v; //vector declaration without predefined size
v.push_back(10);
v.push_back(20);
v.push_back(30);
v.push_back(40);

As you can see, we used here push_back method which is used to push the elements into the vector from backside.

• Second Way

In this way, we define the vector by setting a fixed size.

vector<int> v(n); //by defining the vector size n. Assume n to be 4
v[0]=10;
v[1]=20;
v[2]=30;
v[3]=40;

• Third Way

In this way, we define a vector with a fixed size and a constant value for all elements.

vector<int> v(n,10); 
//here n is the size and the above statement will copy 10 to all the indices in the vector

• Fourth Way

In this approach, we define all elements of the vector at the beginning itself.

vector<int> v{ 10, 20, 30, 40 };
//same as array initialization

• Fifth Way

In this way, we use another existing vector to define a new vector.

vector<int> v1{10,20,30,40};
vector<int> v2(v1.begin(),v1.end())
//initializing from another vector

• Sixth Way

In this way, we define a vector using an existing array.

int a[] = {10,20,30,40}
int n = sizeof(a)/sizeof(a[0]);
vector<int> v(a,a+n);
//initialization through array

• Seventh Way

If other libraries are allowed.
One can use #include <boost/assign/std/vector.hpp> header file

#include<boost/assign/std/vector.hpp>
using namespace boost::assign

vector<int> v;
v += 1,2,3,4;

Element Access from Vectors in C++

• First Way : Same Like Array

vector<int> v{10,20,30};

for(int i=0;i<v.size();i++)
{
    cout<<v[i]<<" ";
}

• Second Way

for(auto it=v.begin();it!=v.end();it++)
{
    cout<<*it<<" ";
}