Why Are Iterators Preferred Over Array Indices for Traversing Collections in C ?

Why Iterators Reign Supreme Over Array Indices

Traditionally, traversing collections in C involved utilizing array indices to access elements one by one. However, the advent of iterators has introduced a more versatile and advantageous approach.

Consider the following code snippets:

for (int i = 0; i < some_vector.size(); i++)
{
    //do stuff
}

for (some_iterator = some_vector.begin(); some_iterator != some_vector.end();
    some_iterator++)
{
    //do stuff
}

While both methods achieve the same goal, the latter utilizing iterators is strongly recommended for a multitude of reasons.

Enhanced Efficiency

The efficiency of the first approach relies on the speed of vector.size() operation. While this is efficient for vectors, it falls short for containers like lists.

Flexibility in Element Access

Assuming you wish to access elements with T elem = some_vector[i];, you are assuming the container defines an operator[] method. This assumption holds true for vectors but not necessarily for all containers.

Container Independence

Iterators promote container independence by enabling you to work with containers without making assumptions about their specific capabilities. This greatly enhances code portability.

Leveraging Standard Algorithms

Standard algorithms such as std::for_each() and std::transform() further enhance code efficiency, correctness, and reusability by eliminating the need to reinvent common operations.

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