Why does C++ not support Variable-length arrays?

Question

Possible Duplicate:
Variable length arrays in C++?

I am just curious, is there any particular reason why C++ does not allow variable length arrays?

Duplicate of [Variable length arrays in C++?](http://stackoverflow.com/questions/1887097/variable-length-arrays-in-c) — James McNellis, Sep 23 '10 at 21:23

sbi · Accepted Answer · 2010-09-23T22:27:50.613

4

Two reasons:

C++ is based on C89 (the C standard as published in 1989). VLAs were only introduced in C99.
C++ has std::vector<> and a whole bunch of other containers, which is why I believe that C++ will never bother with VLAs. It already had them when VLAs were invented for C.

edited Sep 23 '10 at 22:27

answered Sep 23 '10 at 21:23

sbi

mip · Answer 2 · 2010-09-23T21:27:41.660

2

What about std::vector?

edit: sorry I missundertood your question.

edited Sep 23 '10 at 21:27

answered Sep 23 '10 at 21:22

mip

score 0 · Answer 3 · answered Sep 23 '10 at 21:24

0

The STL includes a Vector class to use. Technically, you could use an array whose index variable is a pointer, leading to a "variable length" array.

answered Sep 23 '10 at 21:24

Madison S

I understand your second point to refer to dynamic arrays. But C has had these, too, from the very beginning. – sbi Sep 23 '10 at 21:33

3 Answers3