For this array: vector<vector<int> > v; v.push_back(vector<int>(0)); v.back().push_back(1); v.back().push_back(2); v.back().push_back(3); v.back().push_back(4); I can output {1, 2, 3, 4} easily enough: cout << v[0][0] << endl; cout << v[0][1] << endl; cout << v[0][2] << endl; cout << v[0][3] << endl; To access it as a flat array I can do this: int* z = (int*)&v[0].front(); cout << z[0] << endl; cout << z[1] << endl; cout << z[2] << endl; cout << z[3] << endl; Now, how do I access the multidimensional vector as a flat multidimensional array? I cannot use the same format as accessing a single-dimensional vector: // This does not work (outputs garbage) int** n = (int**)&v.front(); cout << n[0][0] << endl; cout << n[0][1] << endl; cout << n[0][2] << endl; cout << n[0][3] << endl; The workaround I've found is to do this: int** n = new int* [v.size()]; for (size_t i = 0; i < v.size(); i++) { n[i] = &v.at(i).front(); } cout << n[0][0] << endl; cout << n[0][1] << endl; cout << n[0][2] << endl; cout << n[0][3] << endl; Is there a way to access the entire multidimensional vector like a flat c-style array without having to dynamically allocate each dimension above the data before accessing it? Speed is not critical in the implementation and clarity for maintenance is paramount. A multidimensional vector is just fine for storing the data. However, I want to also expose the data as a flat c-style array in the SDK so that it can be easily accessible by other languages. This means that exposing the vectors as an STL object is a no go. The solution I came up with works fine for my needs as I only evaluate the array once at the very end of processing to "flatten" it. However, is there a better way to go about this? Or am I already doing it the best way I possibly can without re-implementing my own data structure (overkill since my flatten code is only a few lines). Thank you for your advice, friends!