Can we use [] operator or ++ with unique pointer or shared_pointer? As we use it for raw pointer
int * a = new int[10];
a[0] = 2; // We can use [] operator;
Is there a similar way for smart pointers?
If it is there should when should I use this?
Both std::unique_ptr and std::shared_ptr provide operator[] for indexed access to the stored array. You can use them if what they're managing is array.
operator[]provides access to elements of an array managed by aunique_ptr.
e.g.
std::unique_ptr<int[]> a(new int[10]);
a[0] = 2; // We can use [] operator;
Note the index shall be less than the number of elements in the array; otherwise, the behavior is undefined.
Unfortunately we can't use operator++ on them directly; that's not what smart pointers being supposed to do, they're usually used for managing pointers.
And I'll suggest you use std::vector or std::array if you just want an array.
operator++ on them directly; that's not what smart pointers being supposed to do.std::vector or std::array like std::vector<std::vector<T>>.Yes.
Here is an example http://en.cppreference.com/w/cpp/memory/unique_ptr/operator_at
std::unique_ptr<int[]> fact(new int[size]);
shared_ptrstd::shared_ptr<std::array<int, 10>>