Returns a pointer to the underlying array serving as element storage. The pointer is such that range[data(), data()+ size()) is always avalid range

If*this is empty,data() is not dereferenceable.

[edit]Return value

Pointer to the underlying element storage. For non-empty containers, the returned pointer compares equal to the address of the first element.

[edit]Complexity

Constant.

[edit]Notes

If*this is empty,data() may or may not return a null pointer.

[edit]Example

#include <cstddef>#include <iostream>#include <span>#include <vector> void pointer_func(constint* p,std::size_t size){std::cout<<"data = ";for(std::size_t i=0; i< size;++i)std::cout<< p[i]<<' ';std::cout<<'\n';} void span_func(std::span<constint> data)// since C++20{std::cout<<"data = ";for(constint e: data)std::cout<< e<<' ';std::cout<<'\n';} int main(){std::vector<int> container{1,2,3,4}; // Prefer container.data() over &container[0]    pointer_func(container.data(), container.size()); // std::span is a safer alternative to separated pointer/size.    span_func({container.data(), container.size()});}

data = 1 2 3 4data = 1 2 3 4

Defect reports

The following behavior-changing defect reports were applied retroactively to previously published C++ standards.

[edit]See also

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