public member function

std::array::back

<array>
      reference back();
const_reference back() const;
Access last element
Returns a reference to the last element in the array container.

Unlike member array::end, which returns an iterator just past this element, this function returns a direct reference.

Calling this function on an empty container causes undefined behavior.

Parameters

none

Return value

A reference to the last element in the array.

If the array object is const-qualified, the function returns a const_reference. Otherwise, it returns a reference.

Member types reference and const_reference are the reference types to the elements of the array (see array member types).

Example

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// array::back
#include <iostream>
#include <array>

int main ()
{
  std::array<int,3> myarray = {5, 19, 77};

  std::cout << "front is: " << myarray.front() << std::endl;   // 5
  std::cout << "back is: " << myarray.back() << std::endl;     // 77

  myarray.back() = 50;

  std::cout << "myarray now contains:";
  for ( int& x : myarray ) std::cout << ' ' << x;
  std::cout << '\n';

  return 0;
}


Output:
front is: 5
back is: 77
myarray now contains: 5 19 50

Complexity

Constant.

Iterator validity

No changes.

Data races

The last element is potentially accessed or modified by the caller. Concurrently accessing or modifying other elements is safe.

Exception safety

If the container is not empty, the function never throws exceptions (no-throw guarantee).
Otherwise, it causes undefined behavior.

See also