STL iterators

[gizzmo]

Can I use iterators from STL as int type numbers?

Lets say I have a vector of some objects (like in a dictionary I have words). To access each element of that vector I can use the vector::iterator. But now I want to know which object this iterator corresponds to (to push the dictionary analogy further, I have numbered the words, found the word I've been looking for and now I want to know the corresponding number).

Is the only way to do that by embedding the ordering numbers in the objects them self?

[Athar]

For random access iterators you can use operator-:
uint index=yourIterator-vec.begin();

The more general variant that also works with other iterator types (mind the order):
uint index=std::distance(vec.begin(),yourIterator);

[aquaz]

I think you want to use a std::map<int, someOtherType>, the iterator points to a std::pair with the key in first and the value in second.
Or else you store a std::pair<int, someOtherType> instead of someOtherType in your container if you don't want a std::map