Storing Path Objects in Containers

Yes, you can store std::filesystem::path objects in standard containers like std::vector. The std::filesystem::path class is designed to be used just like any other standard library type, making it suitable for use in containers.

Example with std::vector

Here’s an example of storing std::filesystem::path objects in a std::vector:

1#include <filesystem>
2#include <iostream>
3#include <vector>
4
5int main() {
6  std::vector<std::filesystem::path> paths;
7  paths.push_back(R"(C:\path\to\file1.txt)");
8  paths.push_back(R"(C:\path\to\file2.txt)");
9  paths.push_back(R"(C:\path\to\file3.txt)");
10
11  for (const auto& path : paths) {
12    std::cout << "Path: " << path.string() << '\n';
13  }
14}

1Path: C:\path\to\file1.txt
2Path: C:\path\to\file2.txt
3Path: C:\path\to\file3.txt

Key Points

1. Compatibility: std::filesystem::path works seamlessly with standard containers like std::vector, std::list, and std::map.
2. Operations: You can perform all typical container operations such as adding, removing, and iterating over elements.
3. Type Safety: std::filesystem::path is a type-safe representation of paths, making it easier to avoid errors compared to raw strings.

Practical Use Case

Using containers to manage paths is practical for applications that handle multiple files or directories. For example, you might collect all files in a directory and process them:

1#include <filesystem>
2#include <iostream>
3#include <vector>
4
5int main() {
6  std::vector<std::filesystem::path> paths;
7  std::filesystem::path dir{R"(C:\test)"};
8
9  for (const auto& entry
10    : std::filesystem::directory_iterator(dir)) {
11    if (entry.is_regular_file()) {
12      paths.push_back(entry.path());
13    }
14  }
15
16  for (const auto& path : paths) {
17    std::cout << "File: " << path.string() << '\n';
18  }
19}

1File: C:\test\file1.txt
2File: C:\test\file2.txt

Conclusion

Storing std::filesystem::path objects in containers like std::vector is straightforward and enhances the management of multiple file paths in your applications.

This approach leverages the full power of the C++ Standard Library while ensuring type safety and flexibility.