# VecGetArrayRead
Get read-only pointer to contiguous array containing this processor's portion of the vector data. 
## Synopsis
```
#include "petscvec.h"   
PetscErrorCode VecGetArrayRead(Vec x, const PetscScalar **a)
```
Not Collective


## Input Parameter

- ***x -*** the vector



## Output Parameter

- ***a -*** the array





## Notes
The array must be returned using a matching call to `VecRestoreArrayRead()`.

Unlike `VecGetArray()`, this routine is not collective and preserves cached information like vector norms.

Standard PETSc vectors use contiguous storage so that this routine does not perform a copy.  Other vector
implementations may require a copy, but must such implementations should cache the contiguous representation so that
only one copy is performed when this routine is called multiple times in sequence.


## See Also
 [](chapter_vectors), `Vec`, `VecGetArray()`, `VecRestoreArray()`, `VecGetArrayPair()`, `VecRestoreArrayPair()`

## Level
beginner

## Location
<A HREF="PETSC_DOC_OUT_ROOT_PLACEHOLDER/src/vec/vec/interface/rvector.c.html#VecGetArrayRead">src/vec/vec/interface/rvector.c</A>

## Examples
<A HREF="PETSC_DOC_OUT_ROOT_PLACEHOLDER/src/vec/vec/tutorials/ex10.c.html">src/vec/vec/tutorials/ex10.c.html</A><BR>
<A HREF="PETSC_DOC_OUT_ROOT_PLACEHOLDER/src/vec/is/sf/tutorials/ex2.c.html">src/vec/is/sf/tutorials/ex2.c.html</A><BR>
<A HREF="PETSC_DOC_OUT_ROOT_PLACEHOLDER/src/vec/is/sf/tutorials/ex3.c.html">src/vec/is/sf/tutorials/ex3.c.html</A><BR>
<A HREF="PETSC_DOC_OUT_ROOT_PLACEHOLDER/src/mat/tutorials/ex12.c.html">src/mat/tutorials/ex12.c.html</A><BR>
<A HREF="PETSC_DOC_OUT_ROOT_PLACEHOLDER/src/dm/impls/plex/tutorials/ex6.c.html">src/dm/impls/plex/tutorials/ex6.c.html</A><BR>
<A HREF="PETSC_DOC_OUT_ROOT_PLACEHOLDER/src/dm/impls/plex/tutorials/ex8.c.html">src/dm/impls/plex/tutorials/ex8.c.html</A><BR>
<A HREF="PETSC_DOC_OUT_ROOT_PLACEHOLDER/src/dm/tutorials/ex22.c.html">src/dm/tutorials/ex22.c.html</A><BR>
<A HREF="PETSC_DOC_OUT_ROOT_PLACEHOLDER/src/dm/tutorials/swarm_ex3.c.html">src/dm/tutorials/swarm_ex3.c.html</A><BR>
<A HREF="PETSC_DOC_OUT_ROOT_PLACEHOLDER/src/dm/field/tutorials/ex1.c.html">src/dm/field/tutorials/ex1.c.html</A><BR>
<A HREF="PETSC_DOC_OUT_ROOT_PLACEHOLDER/src/ksp/ksp/tutorials/ex10.c.html">src/ksp/ksp/tutorials/ex10.c.html</A><BR>
<A HREF="PETSC_DOC_OUT_ROOT_PLACEHOLDER/src/ksp/ksp/tutorials/ex35.cxx.html">src/ksp/ksp/tutorials/ex35.cxx.html</A><BR>


---
[Edit on GitLab](https://gitlab.com/petsc/petsc/-/edit/release/src/vec/vec/interface/rvector.c)


[Index of all Vec routines](index.md)  
[Table of Contents for all manual pages](/docs/manualpages/index.md)  
[Index of all manual pages](/docs/manualpages/singleindex.md)  
