Re: multi_array management

From: rgarcia1771 (garcia_at_[hidden])
Date: 2002-01-07 15:52:32

--- In boost_at_y..., "rwgk" <rwgk_at_y...> wrote:
> At the top of multi_array_ref.html it says:
> 
>     multi_array_ref does not own the data passed to it.
> 
> Then:
> 
> multi_array_ref& operator=(const multi_array_ref& x)
>         Assignment operator. This performs a deep copy of the other
>         array. Note that array dimensions must agree.
> 
> Who owns these data? The returned multi_array_ref?
> Do some multi_array_ref own data?
I should clarify this in the documentation.  multi_array_ref does not
take ownership of the *memory* passed to it.  In other words, it does
not attempt to delete the memory block when it is destructed.

A multi_array_ref refers to the same block of data
for its entire lifetime.  Any operations that modify the data
in a multi_array_ref will modify the memory block passed to it.  By
memory block, I mean the locations in memory 
[multi_array_ref::data(),
multi_array_ref::data()+multi_array_ref::num_elements())

In contrast, multi_array allocates its own block of memory for data
and releases it when destructed.

ron