Open In App

How to iterate through a Vector without using Iterators in C++

Improve
Improve
Improve
Like Article
Like
Save Article
Save
Share
Report issue
Report

Prerequisite: C++ STL, Iterators in C++ STL

The iterator is not the only way to iterate through any STL container. There exists a better and efficient way to iterate through vector without using iterators. It can be iterated using the values stored in any container. Below is the syntax for the same for vectors:

Syntax:

for(auto itr : vector_name)

Explanation: Here itr is the value stored in vector which is used to traverse vectors. Below is the program to illustrate the same:




// C++ program to illustrate the above
// topic
#include <bits/stdc++.h>
using namespace std;
  
// Driver Code
int main()
{
  
    // Declare the vector
    vector<int> arr = { 1, 2, 3, 4 };
  
    // Traversing the vector using
    // values directly
    for (auto& it : arr) {
  
        // Print the values
        cout << it << ' ';
    }
    return 0;
}


Output:

1 2 3 4

Updating values in vector: For updating values in a vector without using iterators traverse the values stored in vector using reference and updated the value. Below is the syntax for the same:

Syntax:

for(auto &itr : vector_name)

Explanation: Here itr is an address to the value stored in vector which is used to traverse vectors. Below is the program to illustrate the same:




// C++ program to illustrate the updation
// in vector without using iterator
#include <bits/stdc++.h>
using namespace std;
  
// Function to update the value in vector
void updateVector(vector<int> arr)
{
  
    cout << "Vector Before Update: ";
    for (auto& it : arr) {
        cout << it << ' ';
    }
  
    // Traverse using the reference to value
    // and multiply each value by 2
    for (auto& it : arr) {
        it *= 2;
    }
  
    cout << "\nVector After Update: ";
    // Print vector elements
    for (auto& it : arr) {
        cout << it << ' ';
    }
}
  
// Driver Code
int main()
{
  
    // Declare the vector
    vector<int> arr = { 1, 2, 3, 4 };
  
    // Function Call
    updateVector(arr);
    return 0;
}


Output:

Vector Before Update: 1 2 3 4 
Vector After Update: 2 4 6 8

Advantages:

  • Simple and easy to write code.
  • Better and efficient than using iterators method.

Disadvantages:

  • It iterates only in forward direction.
  • Keeps no counter i.e., We cannot find the index of any element with this traversal. For counting the element, the counter have to taken explicitly.

We can also iterate using the same traversal in many different Containers in C++. Below are the illustration for the same:

  1. Map:




    // C++ program to illustrate the iteration
    // in Map without using iterator
    #include <bits/stdc++.h>
    using namespace std;
      
    // Driver Code
    int main()
    {
      
        // Declare the map
        map<int, int> Mp;
      
        // Inserting values in Map
        Mp[1] = 1;
        Mp[2] = 2;
        Mp[3] = 3;
      
        // Iterate using value in Map
        for (auto it : Mp) {
      
            // Print the elements
            cout << it.first << ' '
                 << it.second << endl;
        }
      
        return 0;
    }

    
    

    Output:

    1 1
    2 2
    3 3
    
  2. Map of Vectors:




    // C++ program to illustrate the iteration
    // in Map of vectors without using iterator
    #include <bits/stdc++.h>
    using namespace std;
      
    // Driver Code
    int main()
    {
      
        // Declare the map of vectors
        map<int, vector<int> > Mp;
      
        // Temporary vector
        vector<int> temp = { 1, 2, 3 };
      
        // Inserting values in Map
        Mp[1] = temp;
      
        temp = { 2, 3, 8, 9 };
        Mp[2] = temp;
      
        temp = { 10, -2 };
        Mp[3] = temp;
      
        // Iterate using value in Map of vectors
        for (auto it : Mp) {
      
            // Print the elements
            cout << it.first << " -> ";
      
            // Traverse each vector map
            // with it.first and print the
            // elements
            for (auto jt : it.second) {
                cout << jt << ' ';
            }
      
            cout << endl;
        }
      
        return 0;
    }

    
    

    Output:

    1 -> 1 2 3 
    2 -> 2 3 8 9 
    3 -> 10 -2
    
  3. Set:




    // C++ program to illustrate the iteration
    // in set without using iterator
    #include <bits/stdc++.h>
    using namespace std;
      
    // Driver Code
    int main()
    {
      
        // Declare the set
        set<int> S;
      
        // Inserting values in set
        S.insert(3);
        S.insert(-1);
        S.insert(3);
        S.insert(4);
      
        // Iterate using value in set
        for (auto it : S) {
      
            // Print the elements
            cout << it << ' ';
        }
        return 0;
    }

    
    

    Output:

    -1 3 4
    
  4. Deque:




    // C++ program to illustrate the iteration
    // in deque without using iterator
    #include <bits/stdc++.h>
    using namespace std;
      
    // Driver Code
    int main()
    {
      
        // Declare the deque
        deque<int> dq;
      
        // Inserting values in deque
        dq.push_front(1);
        dq.push_front(2);
        dq.push_front(3);
      
        dq.push_back(4);
        dq.push_back(5);
        // Iterate using value in set
        for (auto it : dq) {
      
            // Print the elements
            cout << it << ' ';
        }
        return 0;
    }

    
    

    Output:

    3 2 1 4 5
    


Last Updated : 01 Jun, 2020
Like Article
Save Article
Previous
Next
Share your thoughts in the comments
Similar Reads