How to find out if an item is present in a std::vector?

Joan_Venge_51816 0
Viewed 1265044

All I want to do is to check whether an element exists in the vector or not, so I can deal with each case.

if ( item_present )
   do_this();
else
   do_that();
std vector c++
18 Answers

You can use std::find from <algorithm>:

#include <algorithm>
#include <vector>
vector<int> vec; 
//can have other data types instead of int but must same datatype as item 
std::find(vec.begin(), vec.end(), item) != vec.end()

This returns an iterator to the first element found. If not present, it returns an iterator to one-past-the-end. With your example:

#include <algorithm>
#include <vector>

if ( std::find(vec.begin(), vec.end(), item) != vec.end() )
   do_this();
else
   do_that();
MSN_62100

As others have said, use the STL find or find_if functions. But if you are searching in very large vectors and this impacts performance, you may want to sort your vector and then use the binary_search, lower_bound, or upper_bound algorithms.

user_634850

Use find from the algorithm header of stl.I've illustrated its use with int type. You can use any type you like as long as you can compare for equality (overload == if you need to for your custom class).

#include <algorithm>
#include <vector>

using namespace std;
int main()
{   
    typedef vector<int> IntContainer;
    typedef IntContainer::iterator IntIterator;

    IntContainer vw;

    //...

    // find 5
    IntIterator i = find(vw.begin(), vw.end(), 5);

    if (i != vw.end()) {
        // found it
    } else {
        // doesn't exist
    }

    return 0;
}
m-sharp_286780

Bear in mind that, if you're going to be doing a lot of lookups, there are STL containers that are better for that. I don't know what your application is, but associative containers like std::map may be worth considering.

std::vector is the container of choice unless you have a reason for another, and lookups by value can be such a reason.

David_Thornley_141480

Use the STL find function.

Keep in mind that there is also a find_if function, which you can use if your search is more complex, i.e. if you're not just looking for an element, but, for example, want see if there is an element that fulfills a certain condition, for example, a string that starts with "abc". (find_if would give you an iterator that points to the first such element).

user_606280

With boost you can use any_of_equal:

#include <boost/algorithm/cxx11/any_of.hpp>

bool item_present = boost::algorithm::any_of_equal(vector, element);
user_2612170

From C++20, using ranges (#include <ranges>)

    //SAMPLE DATA
    std::vector<int> vecOfElements = { 2,4,6,8 };

    //DO SOMETHING IF 8 IN VECTOR
    if (std::ranges::find(vecOfElements, 8) != vecOfElements.end())
    {
        std::cout << "DO SOMETHING" << std::endl;
    }
user_68663090

I've personally used templates of late to handle multiple types of containers at once rather than deal only with vectors. I found a similar example online (can't remember where) so credit goes to whoever I've pilfered this from. This particular pattern seems to handle raw arrays as well.

template <typename Container, typename T = typename std::decay<decltype(*std::begin(std::declval<Container>()))>::type>
bool contains(Container && c, T v)
{
    return std::find(std::begin(c), std::end(c), v) != std::end(c);
}
user_65258230

(C++17 and above):

can use std::search also

This is also useful for searching sequence of elements.

#include <algorithm>
#include <iostream>
#include <vector>

template <typename Container>
bool search_vector(const Container& vec, const Container& searchvec)
{
    return std::search(vec.begin(), vec.end(), searchvec.begin(), searchvec.end()) != vec.end();
}

int main()
{
     std::vector<int> v = {2,4,6,8};

     //THIS WORKS. SEARCHING ONLY ONE ELEMENT.
     std::vector<int> searchVector1 = {2};
     if(search_vector(v,searchVector1))
         std::cout<<"searchVector1 found"<<std::endl;
     else
         std::cout<<"searchVector1 not found"<<std::endl;

     //THIS WORKS, AS THE ELEMENTS ARE SEQUENTIAL.
     std::vector<int> searchVector2 = {6,8};
     if(search_vector(v,searchVector2))
         std::cout<<"searchVector2 found"<<std::endl;
     else
         std::cout<<"searchVector2 not found"<<std::endl;

     //THIS WILL NOT WORK, AS THE ELEMENTS ARE NOT SEQUENTIAL.
     std::vector<int> searchVector3 = {8,6};
     if(search_vector(v,searchVector3))
         std::cout<<"searchVector3 found"<<std::endl;
     else
         std::cout<<"searchVector3 not found"<<std::endl;
}

Also there is flexibility of passing some search algorithms. Refer here.

https://en.cppreference.com/w/cpp/algorithm/search

user_68663090
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