Suppose i've data array 0,0,1,1,2,2,5,5,7,7,2,2 as data member in class and i want to define subscript operator in such they
[i] returns me 2*i element of array but also i want let user to set elements, so
[i] = n, must be applied to both 2*i and 2*i+1.
Is it possible to do it with showing to user only subscript operator?
0,0,1,1,2,2,5,5,7,7,2,2
[3] = 4;
0,0,1,1,2,2,4,4,7,7,2,2
another workarounds? and in general it may be not only two elements.
Indirectly, yes.
You can return a dedicated type with the subscript operator that works basically like a functor and takes care of assigning the value according to your specification:
struct AssignFunctor {
MyArrayType& parent;
size_t index;
AssignFunctor(MyArrayType& parent, size_t index) : parent(parent), index(index) {}
AssignFunctor& operator=(int k) {
parent.set(index,k);
parent.set(index*2,k);
}
operator int() const {
return parent.get(index);
}
};
struct MyArrayType {
AssignFunctor operator[](size_t index) {
return AssignFunctor(*this,index);
}
int operator[](size_t index) const {
return get(index);
}
void set(size_t,int);
int get(size_t) const;
};
I am pretty sure you can implement it as mentioned above.
But there's a ground rule for operator overloading.
Don't change the meaning of the operator
In the user's perspective you're setting one element but that is applied to a different one as well. Better give meaningful function or change the design of your data structure.