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std::random_access_iterator

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< cpp‎ | iterator
 
 
Iterator library
Iterator concepts
random_access_iterator
(C++20)

Iterator primitives
Algorithm concepts and utilities
Indirect callable concepts
Common algorithm requirements
(C++20)
(C++20)
(C++20)
Utilities
(C++20)

Iterator adaptors
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(C++11)    
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(C++11)(C++14)
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Defined in header <iterator>
template< class I >

    concept random_access_iterator =
        std::bidirectional_iterator<I> &&
        std::derived_from</*ITER_CONCEPT*/<I>, std::random_access_iterator_tag> &&
        std::totally_ordered<I> &&
        std::sized_sentinel_for<I, I> &&
        requires(I i, const I j, const std::iter_difference_t<I> n) {
            { i += n } -> std::same_as<I&>;
            { j +  n } -> std::same_as<I>;
            { n +  j } -> std::same_as<I>;
            { i -= n } -> std::same_as<I&>;
            { j -  n } -> std::same_as<I>;
            {  j[n]  } -> std::same_as<std::iter_reference_t<I>>;

        };
(since C++20)

The concept random_access_iterator refines bidirectional_iterator by adding support for constant time advancement with the +=, +, -=, and - operators, constant time computation of distance with -, and array notation with subscripting [].

Contents

[edit] Iterator concept determination

Definition of this concept is specified via an exposition-only alias template /*ITER_CONCEPT*/.

In order to determine /*ITER_CONCEPT*/<I>, let ITER_TRAITS<I> denote I if the specialization std::iterator_traits<I> is generated from the primary template, or std::iterator_traits<I> otherwise:

  • If ITER_TRAITS<I>::iterator_concept is valid and names a type, /*ITER_CONCEPT*/<I> denotes the type.
  • Otherwise, if ITER_TRAITS<I>::iterator_category is valid and names a type, /*ITER_CONCEPT*/<I> denotes the type.
  • Otherwise, if std::iterator_traits<I> is generated from the primary template, /*ITER_CONCEPT*/<I> denotes std::random_access_iterator_tag.
  • Otherwise, /*ITER_CONCEPT*/<I> does not denote a type and results in a substitution failure.

[edit] Semantic requirements

Let a and b be valid iterators of type I such that b is reachable from a, and let n be a value of type std::iter_difference_t<I> equal to b - a. std::random_access_iterator<I> is modeled only if all the concepts it subsumes are modeled and:

  • (a += n) is equal to b.
  • std::addressof(a += n) is equal to std::addressof(a). [1]
  • (a + n) is equal to (a += n).
  • (a + n) is equal to (n + a).
  • For any two positive integers x and y, if a + (x + y) is valid, then a + (x + y) is equal to (a + x) + y.
  • a + 0 is equal to a.
  • If (a + (n - 1)) is valid, then --b is equal to (a + (n - 1)).
  • (b += -n) and (b -= n) are both equal to a.
  • std::addressof(b -= n) is equal to std::addressof(b). [1]
  • (b - n) is equal to (b -= n).
  • If b is dereferenceable, then a[n] is valid and is equal to *b.
  • bool(a <= b) is true.
  • Every required operation has constant time complexity.

Note that std::addressof returns the address of the iterator object, not the address of the object the iterator points to. I.e. operator+= and operator-= must return a reference to *this.

[edit] Equality preservation

Expressions declared in requires expressions of the standard library concepts are required to be equality-preserving (except where stated otherwise).

[edit] Implicit expression variations

A requires expression that uses an expression that is non-modifying for some constant lvalue operand also requires implicit expression variations.

[edit] Notes

Unlike the LegacyRandomAccessIterator requirements, the random_access_iterator concept does not require dereference to return an lvalue.

[edit] Example

Demonstrates a possible implementation of std::distance via C++20 concepts.

#include <iterator>
 
namespace cxx20
{
    template<std::input_or_output_iterator Iter>
    constexpr std::iter_difference_t<Iter> distance(Iter first, Iter last)
    {
        if constexpr(std::random_access_iterator<Iter>)
            return last - first;
        else
        {
            std::iter_difference_t<Iter> result{};
            for (; first != last; ++first)
                ++result;
            return result;
        }
    }
}
 
int main()
{
    static constexpr auto il = {3, 1, 4};
 
    static_assert(std::random_access_iterator<decltype(il.begin())> &&
                  cxx20::distance(il.begin(), il.end()) == 3 &&
                  cxx20::distance(il.end(), il.begin()) == -3);
}

[edit] See also

specifies that a forward_iterator is a bidirectional iterator, supporting movement backwards
(concept) [edit]
specifies that a random_access_iterator is a contiguous iterator, referring to elements that are contiguous in memory
(concept) [edit]