Can a vector::iterator also function as a vector

Question

So I am trying to load a binary file into a Vector, so I can use it like a Buffer.

ifstream binaryFile;
vector<unsigned char> fileBuffer(istreambuf_iterator<char>(binaryFile), {});
vector<unsigned char>::iterator fileIter = fileBuffer.begin();

Now my question is, if I use the fileIter variable, can I access all the elements in the fileBuffer vector ?
I want to know, because I need to edit the contents of the fileBuffer only at certain Positions, that is why I am working with iterators int the first place.

Simplified, I want to know, if I can edit the elements in the vector fileBuffer , if I edit the fileIter with code like *(fileIter + 2) = 'a';

I have researched this Topic but I have not yet found an answer.

Answer 1

The standard class template std::vector has a random access iterator. So you can use it the same way as a pointer. For example

fileIter[10] = 'A';

or

fileIter += 10;

and so on.

Here is a demonstrative program.

#include <iostream>
#include <vector>

int main() 
{
    std::vector<int> v = { 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 };

    for ( const auto &item : v ) std::cout << item << ' ';
    std::cout << '\n';

    auto it = v.begin();

    it[1] = -it[1];

    for ( const auto &item : v ) std::cout << item << ' ';
    std::cout << '\n';

    it += 2;

    *it *= 10;

    for ( const auto &item : v ) std::cout << item << ' ';
    std::cout << '\n';

    return 0;
}

Its output is

1 2 3 4 5 
1 -2 3 4 5 
1 -2 30 4 5