Difference between std::vector and std::array [duplicate]

Question

I am doing the codecademy c++ course and just went over vectors and arrays. From what I understand, the only difference between the two is that you can change the size of a vector, but cannot change the size of an array. Are there any other differences that I am missing that would make them more useful in the future?

the only difference between the two is that you can change the size of a vector, -- Vectors do not decay to pointers when passed to functions. — PaulMcKenzie
– PaulMcKenzie, Commented Apr 19, 2020 at 23:57
@PaulMcKenzie neither does std::array. But both containers do have a data() method for getting such a pointer — Remy Lebeau
– Remy Lebeau, Commented Apr 20, 2020 at 0:45
I was assuming the author was referring to regular arrays, not std::array. — PaulMcKenzie
– PaulMcKenzie, Commented Apr 20, 2020 at 0:49

Acorn · Accepted Answer · 2020-04-20 00:00:39Z

2

A major difference is that std::vector allocates memory, i.e. it uses the heap for storage. An array (std::array or a built-in one) does not.

Allocating memory is a major difference because it is a very expensive operation relative to many others (when using the default allocator).

answered Apr 20, 2020 at 0:00

Acorn

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