[C++] Reading a binary file into a byte array

[Silicon Waffle]

I have to read a binary file into a byte array and chop it wherever I like.
I'd like to use a vector of char to do this. But reading some resources from known people, I find they tend to use char* or char []. Using a vector of chars seems easier for retrieval of any block of bytes.
Which means of storage would be better to you ? Thank you.

 

[berkeman]

I have to read a binary file into a byte array and chop it wherever I like.
I'd like to use a vector of char to do this. But reading some resources from known people, I find they tend to use char* or char []. Using a vector of chars seems easier for retrieval of any block of bytes.
Which means of storage would be better to you ? Thank you.

When you say "vector", do you mean "array"? If so, your mention of char[] applies...

 

[Silicon Waffle]

I mean C++'s vector class.

 

[rcgldr]

There's a small amount of overhead for a vector, since there's a local structure, that contains a pointer to the allocated memory (as well as other parameters like the object type and number of objects). When combining old and new code, sometimes I'll use a vector in the main code, but call an old code function that takes a pointer to object as a parameter. For example, if I have vector <char> vectorofchar ..., I use &vectorofchar[0] as a parameter for the old code function.

 

[LudusRex]

I understand the importance of choosing the most efficient and effective means of storage for data. In this case, I would recommend using a vector of char instead of char* or char[].

A vector of char allows for dynamic resizing, which means you can easily add or remove elements as needed without worrying about the size limitations of a fixed array. This is especially useful when dealing with large binary files.

Additionally, a vector of char allows for easy retrieval of any block of bytes, as you mentioned. This is important for data analysis and manipulation, as it allows for flexibility in accessing specific sections of the file.

Overall, while both char* and char[] may be commonly used for reading binary files, a vector of char offers more advantages in terms of efficiency and ease of use. I would recommend using a vector of char for reading binary files into a byte array and chopping it wherever needed.