ndslice: convert a sliced object to T[]

[data pulverizer via Digitalmars-d-learn]

On Wednesday, 15 June 2016 at 07:45:12 UTC, Andrea Fontana wrote:
> On Wednesday, 15 June 2016 at 07:24:23 UTC, data pulverizer 
> wrote:
>> On Wednesday, 15 June 2016 at 03:17:39 UTC, Seb wrote:
>>> On Wednesday, 15 June 2016 at 03:11:23 UTC, data pulverizer 
>>> wrote:
>>>> in that case:
>>>>
>>>> import std.array : array;
>>>> int[] x = slice.byElement.array;
>>>
>>> Are you sure you want to create a _copy_ of your data? In 
>>> most cases you don't need that ;-)
>>>
>>>> thanks, now I can go to bed!
>>>
>>> You are welcome. Sleep tight!
>>
>> Thanks, I did.
>>
>> I definitely don't want to create a copy! I thought .byElement 
>> would provide a range which I assume is a reference am I 
>> forcing it to copy by using .array?
>
> Yes. You're forcing it to read all elements and copy them in a 
> new array.

I guess foreach would not copy the elements? for example:

foreach(el; slice.byElement)
		x ~= el;

But it feels wrong to be doing work pulling elements that already 
exists by using foreach. I feel as if I am missing something 
obvious but can't get it.