OOP

Arrays of objects

Arrays of objects in C++ allow you to create a collection of objects of the same class within a single array. This is useful when you need to manage a group of similar objects together.

Here’s a breakdown of the concept:

Why Use Arrays of Objects?

• Managing Multiple Objects: Arrays of objects provide a structured way to store and access a collection of objects that belong to the same class.
• Data Abstraction: You can treat the entire array as a single unit while still being able to access and manipulate individual objects within the array.

Syntax:

class MyClass {
private:
  MyClass objects[size]; // Array of MyClass objects
  // ... other members
public:
  // ... member functions
};

Example:

class Book {
public:
  std::string title;
  std::string author;

  Book(const std::string& title, const std::string& author) : title(title), author(author) {}
};

int main() {
  Book myBooks[3]; // Array of 3 Book objects

  myBooks[0] = Book("The Lord of the Rings", "J.R.R. Tolkien");
  myBooks[1] = Book("Pride and Prejudice", "Jane Austen");
  myBooks[2] = Book("The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy", "Douglas Adams");

  for (int i = 0; i < 3; ++i) {
    std::cout << "Book " << i + 1 << ": " << myBooks[i].title << " by " << myBooks[i].author << std::endl;
  }

  return 0;
}

Considerations:

• Size: The size of the array determines the number of objects it can hold. It can be fixed at compile time or potentially dynamic at runtime.
• Memory Management: Be mindful of memory management, especially if the objects within the array have dynamically allocated data. The class destructor might need to handle deallocating memory for all the objects within the array.
• Alternatives: Consider using STL containers like vector<MyClass> for more features like automatic resizing and potentially better memory management.

Key Points:

• Arrays of objects are a basic way to manage collections of similar objects.
• They offer a structured approach to access and manipulate individual objects within the array.
• Consider memory management and potential alternatives like STL containers for more complex scenarios.