[c++] How can I get a value from a map?

I have a map named valueMap as follows:

typedef std::map<std::string, std::string>MAP;
MAP valueMap;
...
// Entering data.

Then I am passing this map to a function by reference:

void function(const MAP &map)
{
  std::string value = map["string"];
  // By doing so I am getting an error.
}

How can I get the value from the map, which is passed as a reference to a function?

How can I get the value from the map, which is passed as a reference to a function?

Well, you can pass it as a reference. The standard reference wrapper that is.

typedef std::map<std::string, std::string> MAP;
// create your map reference type
using map_ref_t = std::reference_wrapper<MAP>;

// use it 
void function(map_ref_t map_r)
{
    // get to the map from inside the
    // std::reference_wrapper
    // see the alternatives behind that link
    MAP & the_map = map_r;
    // take the value from the map
    // by reference
    auto & value_r = the_map["key"];
    // change it, "in place"
    value_r = "new!";
}

And the test.

    void test_ref_to_map() {

    MAP valueMap;
    valueMap["key"] = "value";
    // pass it by reference
    function(valueMap);
    // check that the value has changed
    assert( "new!" == valueMap["key"] );
}

I think this is nice and simple. Enjoy ...

map.at("key") throws exception if missing key

If k does not match the key of any element in the container, the function throws an out_of_range exception.

http://www.cplusplus.com/reference/map/map/at/

The answer by Steve Jessop explains well, why you can't use std::map::operator[] on a const std::map. Gabe Rainbow's answer suggests a nice alternative. I'd just like to provide some example code on how to use map::at(). So, here is an enhanced example of your function():

void function(const MAP &map, const std::string &findMe) {
    try {
        const std::string& value = map.at(findMe);
        std::cout << "Value of key \"" << findMe.c_str() << "\": " << value.c_str() << std::endl;
        // TODO: Handle the element found.
    }
    catch (const std::out_of_range&) {
        std::cout << "Key \"" << findMe.c_str() << "\" not found" << std::endl;
        // TODO: Deal with the missing element.
    }
}

And here is an example main() function:

int main() {
    MAP valueMap;
    valueMap["string"] = "abc";
    function(valueMap, "string");
    function(valueMap, "strong");
    return 0;
}

Output:

Value of key "string": abc
Key "strong" not found

Code on Ideone

The main problem is that operator [] is used to insert and read a value into and from the map, so it cannot be const. If the key does not exist, it will create a new entry with a default value in it, incrementing the size of the map, that will contain a new key with an empty string ,in this particular case, as a value if the key does not exist yet. You should avoid operator[] when reading from a map and use, as was mention before, "map.at(key)" to ensure bound checking. This is one of the most common mistakes people often do with maps. You should use "insert" and "at" unless your code is aware of this fact. Check this talk about common bugs Curiously Recurring C++ Bugs at Facebook