Search code examples
c++iteratorstdmap

Does std::map::iterator return a copy of value or a value itself?

I'm trying to create a map inside a map:

typedef map<float,mytype> inner_map;
typedef map<float,inner_map> outer_map;

Will I be able to put something inside inner map, or does iterator::second returns a copy?

stl_pair.h suggests the latter:

74: _T2 second;          ///< @c second is a copy of the second object

but my test program run fine with the code like this:

it = my_map.lower_bound(3.1415);
(*it).second.insert(inner_map::value_type(2.71828,"Hello world!");

So where is the truth? Is this a copy or not?

Solution

  • The comment in stl_pair.h is misleading in this specific case.

    There will be no copy, since the map::iterator actually refers to the original data inside the map (the value_type, which itself is a pair), it’s not a copy. Thus iterator::second also refers to the original data.