What are the potential issues caused by array index out of bounds in C++?
Potential issues caused by array index out of bounds in C++ include:
- Accessing non-existent memory: When accessing array elements using an index that exceeds the array range, it may lead to accessing memory outside of the array, potentially causing program crashes or undefined behavior.
- Data corruption may occur if data is written using an index beyond the range of the array, potentially overwriting data in other memory regions.
- Incorrect computation result: Using the wrong index to access array elements in a program may lead to an inaccurate calculation result, affecting the correctness of the program.
- Security vulnerability: accessing an array out of bounds can lead to buffer overflow, which is a common security vulnerability. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability to execute malicious code, modify program data, or access sensitive information.
To avoid array out-of-bound issues, always make sure to use the correct index to access array elements and perform boundary checks when necessary. Instead of raw arrays, consider using container classes like vectors from the C++ standard library as they provide a safer and more convenient way of operations. Additionally, it is a good programming practice to use loops and conditional statements to ensure the validity of indices.
