Question

Assuming that array1 and array2 are both arrays, why is it not possible to assign the contents of array2 to array1 with the following statement? array1 = array2;

   Assuming that array1 and array2 are both arrays, why is it not possible to assign the contents of array2 to array1 with the following statement?
array1 = array2;

Starting out with C++: From Control Structures through Objects

Starting out with C++: From Control Structures through Objects

Tony Gaddis 10th Edition

Chapter 7, Problem 7

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In many programming languages, arrays are reference types, meaning that they store references to the actual data rather than the data itself. Show more…

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Assuming that array1 and array2 are both arrays, why is it not possible to assign the contents of array2 to array1 with the following statement? array1 = array2;

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Key Concepts

Arrays as Non-Assignable Entities

In many programming languages, particularly C and C++, arrays are not treated as first-class objects that can be assigned using the '=' operator. The name of an array represents a fixed memory address where the series of elements resides. Because of this fixed association with a block of memory, the entire contents of one array cannot be simply assigned to another using a straightforward assignment statement.

Pointer Decay and Type Constraints

When used in expressions, array names often decay into pointers to their first element. This conversion means that an array is not just a handle to a block of elements but a fixed pointer to a specific location. Attempting to assign one array to another with an assignment operator does not work because the language does not support copying the entire fixed memory block through pointer assignment, nor does it allow modifying the underlying pointer the array name represents.

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