Glas List: [glas] return type of operator[](size_type) for sparse vectors?

From: Toon Knapen (toon.knapen_at_[hidden])
Date: 2006-04-25 15:22:23

Given a sparse vector v of size 10, what would v[0] return? Should it 
return a reference to the element at position 0 in the sparse vector. 
What if that element is a structural-zero? It clearly is not as 
straightforward as with dense vectors.

The options AFAICT are:
1) provide no 'operator[](size_type)' to avoid confusion

2) return the value at the corresponding position or if the position 
corresponds to a structural-zero return zero. Thus in that case 
operator[] will not affect/change the structure and operator[] will not 
allow to change the value at the corresponding position.

3) return a proxy. If the proxy is being assigned to, the structure will 
be changed in case the position corresponded with a structural-zero.

What would you find most intuitive? (of course other methods allow to 
query if a specific position corresponds to a non-zero or not so 
operator[] is not the only way to access elements). Also your feedback 
on you experience with other libraries can be usefull to make the right 
decision here.

toon