Printing an array in C++?

Just iterate over the elements. Like this:

for (int i = numElements - 1; i >= 0; i--) 
    cout << array[i];

Note: As Maxim Egorushkin pointed out, this could overflow. See his comment below for a better solution.


Use the STL

#include <iostream>
#include <vector>
#include <algorithm>
#include <iterator>
#include <ranges>

int main()
{
    std::vector<int>    userInput;


    // Read until end of input.
    // Hit control D  
    std::copy(std::istream_iterator<int>(std::cin),
              std::istream_iterator<int>(),
              std::back_inserter(userInput)
             );

    // ITs 2021 now move this up as probably the best way to do it.
    // Range based for is now "probably" the best alternative C++20
    // As we have all the range based extension being added to the language
    for(auto const& value: userInput)
    {
        std::cout << value << ",";
    }
    std::cout << "\n";

    // Print the array in reverse using the range based stuff
    for(auto const& value: userInput | std::views::reverse)
    {
        std::cout << value << ",";
    }
    std::cout << "\n";


    // Print in Normal order
    std::copy(userInput.begin(),
              userInput.end(),
              std::ostream_iterator<int>(std::cout,",")
             );
    std::cout << "\n";

    // Print in reverse order:
    std::copy(userInput.rbegin(),
              userInput.rend(),
              std::ostream_iterator<int>(std::cout,",")
             );
    std::cout << "\n";

}

May I suggest using the fish bone operator?

for (auto x = std::end(a); x != std::begin(a); )
{
    std::cout <<*--x<< ' ';
}

(Can you spot it?)


Besides the for-loop based solutions, you can also use an ostream_iterator<>. Here's an example that leverages the sample code in the (now retired) SGI STL reference:

#include <iostream>
#include <iterator>
#include <algorithm>

int main()
{
  short foo[] = { 1, 3, 5, 7 };

  using namespace std;
  copy(foo,
       foo + sizeof(foo) / sizeof(foo[0]),
       ostream_iterator<short>(cout, "\n"));
}

This generates the following:

 ./a.out 
1
3
5
7

However, this may be overkill for your needs. A straight for-loop is probably all that you need, although litb's template sugar is quite nice, too.

Edit: Forgot the "printing in reverse" requirement. Here's one way to do it:

#include <iostream>
#include <iterator>
#include <algorithm>

int main()
{
  short foo[] = { 1, 3, 5, 7 };

  using namespace std;

  reverse_iterator<short *> begin(foo + sizeof(foo) / sizeof(foo[0]));
  reverse_iterator<short *> end(foo);

  copy(begin,
       end,
       ostream_iterator<short>(cout, "\n"));
}

and the output:

$ ./a.out 
7
5
3
1

Edit: C++14 update that simplifies the above code snippets using array iterator functions like std::begin() and std::rbegin():

#include <iostream>
#include <iterator>
#include <algorithm>

int main()
{
    short foo[] = { 1, 3, 5, 7 };

    // Generate array iterators using C++14 std::{r}begin()
    // and std::{r}end().

    // Forward
    std::copy(std::begin(foo),
              std::end(foo),
              std::ostream_iterator<short>(std::cout, "\n"));

    // Reverse
    std::copy(std::rbegin(foo),
              std::rend(foo),
              std::ostream_iterator<short>(std::cout, "\n"));
}