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std::less

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< cpp‎ | utility‎ | functional
 
 
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Defined in header <functional>
template< class T >
struct less;
(until C++14)
template< class T = void >
struct less;
(since C++14)

Function object for performing comparisons. The main template invokes operator< on type T.

Contents

[edit] Specializations

function object implementing x < y deducing parameter and return types
(class template specialization) [edit]

[edit] Member types

Type Definition
result_type (deprecated in C++17)(removed in C++20) bool
first_argument_type (deprecated in C++17)(removed in C++20) T
second_argument_type (deprecated in C++17)(removed in C++20) T

These member types are obtained via publicly inheriting std::binary_function<T, T, bool>.

(until C++11)

[edit] Member functions

operator()
checks whether the first argument is less than the second
(public member function)

std::less::operator()

bool operator()( const T& lhs, const T& rhs ) const;
(until C++14)
constexpr bool operator()( const T& lhs, const T& rhs ) const;
(since C++14)

Checks whether lhs is less than rhs.

Parameters

lhs, rhs - values to compare

Return value

lhs < rhs.

If T is a pointer type, the result is consistent with the implementation-defined strict total order over pointers.

[edit] Exceptions

May throw implementation-defined exceptions.

Possible implementation

constexpr bool operator()(const T& lhs, const T& rhs) const 
{
    return lhs < rhs; // assumes that the implementation handles pointer total order
}

[edit] Example

#include <functional>
 
template<typename A, typename B, typename C = std::less<>>
constexpr bool fun(A a, B b, C cmp = C{})
{
    return cmp(a, b);
}
 
static_assert(fun(1, 2) == true);
static_assert(fun(1.0, 1) == false);
static_assert(fun(1, 2.0) == true);
static_assert(std::less<int>{}(5, 5.6) == false);   // 5 < 5 (warn: implicit conversion)
static_assert(std::less<double>{}(5, 5.6) == true); // 5.0 < 5.6
static_assert(std::less<int>{}(5.6, 5.7) == false); // 5 < 5 (warn: implicit conversion)
static_assert(std::less{}(5, 5.6) == true);         // less<void>: 5.0 < 5.6
 
int main() {}

[edit] Defect reports

The following behavior-changing defect reports were applied retroactively to previously published C++ standards.

DR Applied to Behavior as published Correct behavior
LWG 2562 C++98 the pointer total order might be inconsistent guaranteed to be consistent

[edit] See also

function object implementing x == y
(class template) [edit]
function object implementing x > y
(class template) [edit]
constrained function object implementing x < y
(class) [edit]