c++ cast vector<Inherited*> to vector<abstract*>

Question

class Interface{};

class Foo: public Interface{};

class Bar{
public:
    vector<Interface*> getStuff();
private:
    vector<Foo*> stuff;
};

How do I implement the function getStuff()?

Answer 1

I am using this. It is not very nice, but fast I think :)

vector<Interface*> getStuff()
{
    return *(std::vector<Interface*> *)&stuff;
}

And you can also return only reference to the vector with this method

vector<Interface*> &getStuff()
{
    return *(std::vector<Interface*> *)&stuff;
}