Overload array subscript operator

Question

Is there any way to overload the array subscript operator in C++ other than in a class? I would like to call a user-defined function when reading/writing in the array.

For example:

int* array = new int[10];
array[0] = 5;

When writing in array[0], I would like to call my own function. I know it can be done inside a class by overloading the operator[] (for example, a SafeArray class).

Thanks.

Answer 1

What you want is a wrapper class, something like:

template<typename T>
struct SubscriptWrapper {
    SubscriptWrapper(T* array) : array_(array) {};
    T& operator[](size_t index) { 
        // your magic goes in here
    };
    T* array_;
}