Difference between std::vector::front() and begin()

Question

Help on vector says of front()

Returns a reference to the first element in the vector container. Unlike member vector::begin, which returns an iterator to this same element, this > function returns a direct reference.

Help on vector says of begin()

Returns an iterator referring to the first element in the vector container. Notice that unlike member vector::front, which returns a reference to the first element, > this function returns a random access iterator.

And this code outputs:

char arr[] = { 'A', 'B', 'C' };
vector<char> vec(arr, arr+sizeof(arr));
cout << "address of vec.front() " << (void*)&vec.front() << endl;
cout << "address of vec.begin() " << (void*)&vec.begin() << endl;

address of vec.front() 00401F90 address of vec.begin() 0030F494

I don't understand what 'direct reference' means? In the case of begin() isn't a random access iterator just a pointer?

Can someone please point out the difference?

Answer 1

According to Stroustrup in The C++ Programming Language, Section 16.3.3; think of front() as the first element and begin() as a pointer to the first element.