How to: Use Indexed Properties 

An indexed property typically exposes a data structure that is accessed using a subscript operator.

A default indexed property allows the user to access the data structure via the class name, whereas a user-defined indexed property requires the user to specify the property name to access the data structure.

For information on accessing a default indexer via the this pointer, see Semantics of the this Pointer in Value and Reference Types.

For information on consuming an indexer authored in C#, see How to: Consume a C# Indexer.

Example

The following code sample shows how to use default and user defined indexed properties.

// mcppv2_property_2.cpp
// compile with: /clr
using namespace System;
public ref class C {
   array<int>^ MyArr;

public:
   C() {
      MyArr = gcnew array<int>(5);
   }

   // default indexer
   property int default[int] {
      int get(int index) {
         return MyArr[index];
      }
      void set(int index, int value) {
         MyArr[index] = value;
      }
   }

   // user-defined indexer
   property int indexer1[int] {
      int get(int index) {
         return MyArr[index];
      }
      void set(int index, int value) {
         MyArr[index] = value;
      }
   }
};

int main() {
   C ^ MyC = gcnew C();

   // use the default indexer
   Console::Write("[ ");
   for (int i = 0 ; i < 5 ; i++) {
      MyC[i] = i;
      Console::Write("{0} ", MyC[i]);
   }

   Console::WriteLine("]");

   // use the user-defined indexer
   Console::Write("[ ");
   for (int i = 0 ; i < 5 ; i++) {
      MyC->indexer1[i] = i * 2;
      Console::Write("{0} ", MyC->indexer1[i]);
   }

   Console::WriteLine("]");
}

Output

[ 0 1 2 3 4 ]
[ 0 2 4 6 8 ]

Example

This sample shows how to call the default indexer through the this pointer.

// call_default_indexer_through_this_pointer.cpp
// compile with: /clr /c
value class Position {
public:
   Position(int x, int y) : position(gcnew array<int, 2>(100, 100)) {
      this->default[x, y] = 1;
   }

   property int default[int, int] {
      int get(int x, int y) {
         return position[x, y];
      }

      void set(int x, int y, int value) {}
   }

private:
   array<int, 2> ^ position;
};

Example

This sample shows how you can use DefaultMemberAttribute to specify the default indexer.

// specify_default_indexer.cpp
// compile with: /LD /clr
using namespace System;
[Reflection::DefaultMember("XXX")]
public ref struct Squares {
   property Double XXX[Double] {
      Double get(Double data) {
         return data*data;
      }
   }
};

Example

This sample consumes the metadata created in the previous example.

// consume_default_indexer.cpp
// compile with: /clr
#using "specify_default_indexer.dll"
int main() {
   Squares ^ square = gcnew Squares();
   System::Console::WriteLine("{0}", square[3]);
}

Output

9

See Also

Reference

property