NAME¶

std::vector::data - std::vector::data

Synopsis¶

T* data(); (until C++11)
T* data() noexcept; (since C++11)
(until C++20)
constexpr T* data() noexcept; (since C++20)
const T* data() const; (until C++11)
const T* data() const noexcept; (since C++11)
(until C++20)
constexpr const T* data() const noexcept; (since C++20)

Returns pointer to the underlying array serving as element storage. The pointer is
such that range [data(); data() + size()) is always a valid range, even if the
container is empty (data() is not dereferenceable in that case).

Parameters¶

(none)

Return value¶

Pointer to the underlying element storage. For non-empty containers, the returned
pointer compares equal to the address of the first element.

Complexity¶

Constant.

Notes¶

If size() is 0, data() may or may not return a null pointer.

Example¶

// Run this code

#include <cstddef>
#include <iostream>
#include <span>
#include <vector>

void pointer_func(const int* p, std::size_t size)
{
std::cout << "data = ";
for (std::size_t i = 0; i < size; ++i)
std::cout << p[i] << ' ';
std::cout << '\n';
}

void span_func(std::span<const int> data) // since C++20
{
std::cout << "data = ";
for (const int e : data)
std::cout << e << ' ';
std::cout << '\n';
}

int main()
{
std::vector<int> container { 1, 2, 3, 4 };

// Prefer container.data() over &container[0]
pointer_func(container.data(), container.size());

// std::span (C++20) is a safer alternative to separated pointer/size.
span_func({container.data(), container.size()});
}

Output:¶

data = 1 2 3 4
data = 1 2 3 4

Defect reports

The following behavior-changing defect reports were applied retroactively to
previously published C++ standards.

DR Applied to Behavior as published Correct behavior
LWG 464 C++98 vector did not have this member function added

See also¶

front access the first element
(public member function)
back access the last element
(public member function)
size returns the number of elements
(public member function)
span a non-owning view over a contiguous sequence of objects
(C++20) (class template)
data obtains the pointer to the underlying array
(C++17) (function template)