How does the range-based for work for plain arrays?

Question

In C++11 you can use a range-based for, which acts as the foreach of other languages. It works even with plain C arrays:

int number         


        

Answer 1

Some sample code to demonstrate the difference between arrays on Stack vs arrays on Heap

/**
 * Question: Can we use range based for built-in arrays
 * Answer: Maybe
 * 1) Yes, when array is on the Stack
 * 2) No, when array is the Heap
 * 3) Yes, When the array is on the Stack,
 *    but the array elements are on the HEAP
 */
void testStackHeapArrays() {
  int Size = 5;
  Square StackSquares[Size];  // 5 Square's on Stack
  int StackInts[Size];        // 5 int's on Stack
  // auto is Square, passed as constant reference
  for (const auto &Sq : StackSquares)
    cout << "StackSquare has length " << Sq.getLength() << endl;
  // auto is int, passed as constant reference
  // the int values are whatever is in memory!!!
  for (const auto &I : StackInts)
    cout << "StackInts value is " << I << endl;

  // Better version would be: auto HeapSquares = new Square[Size];
  Square *HeapSquares = new Square[Size];   // 5 Square's on Heap
  int *HeapInts = new int[Size];            // 5 int's on Heap

  // does not compile,
  // *HeapSquares is a pointer to the start of a memory location,
  // compiler cannot know how many Square's it has
  // for (auto &Sq : HeapSquares)
  //    cout << "HeapSquare has length " << Sq.getLength() << endl;

  // does not compile, same reason as above
  // for (const auto &I : HeapInts)
  //  cout << "HeapInts value is " << I << endl;

  // Create 3 Square objects on the Heap
  // Create an array of size-3 on the Stack with Square pointers
  // size of array is known to compiler
  Square *HeapSquares2[]{new Square(23), new Square(57), new Square(99)};
  // auto is Square*, passed as constant reference
  for (const auto &Sq : HeapSquares2)
    cout << "HeapSquare2 has length " << Sq->getLength() << endl;

  // Create 3 int objects on the Heap
  // Create an array of size-3 on the Stack with int pointers
  // size of array is known to compiler
  int *HeapInts2[]{new int(23), new int(57), new int(99)};
  // auto is int*, passed as constant reference
  for (const auto &I : HeapInts2)
    cout << "HeapInts2 has value " << *I << endl;

  delete[] HeapSquares;
  delete[] HeapInts;
  for (const auto &Sq : HeapSquares2) delete Sq;
  for (const auto &I : HeapInts2) delete I;
  // cannot delete HeapSquares2 or HeapInts2 since those arrays are on Stack
}