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Asked: 2026-05-13T15:34:07+00:00

I have created a container for generic, weak-type data which is accessible through the

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I have created a container for generic, weak-type data which is accessible through the subscript operator.

The std::map container allows both data access and element insertion through the operator, whereas std::vector I think doesn’t.

What is the best (C++ style) way to proceed? Should I allow allocation through the subscript operator or have a separate insert method?

EDIT

I should say, I’m not asking if I should use vector or map, I just wanted to know what people thought about accessing and inserting being combined in this way.

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1 Answer

  1. Editorial Team

    Separate insert method, definitely. The operator[] on std::map is just stupid and makes the code hard to read and debug.
    Also you can’t access data from a const context if you’re using a operator[] to insert (which will lead to un-const-cancer, the even-more evil cousin of const-cancer).

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