Iterator concepts

Concepts are a C++20 language feature that constrain template parameters at compile time. They help prevent incorrect template instantiation, specify template argument requirements in a readable form, and provide more succinct template related compiler errors.

Consider the following example, which defines a concept to prevent instantiating the template with a type that doesn't support division:

// requires /std:c++20 or later
#include <iostream>

// Definition of dividable concept which requires 
// that arguments a & b of type T support division
template <typename T>
concept dividable = requires (T a, T b)
{
    a / b;
};

// Apply the concept to a template.
// The template will only be instantiated if argument T supports division.
// This prevents the template from being instantiated with types that don't support division.
// This could have been applied to the parameter of a template function, but because
// most of the concepts in the <ranges> library are applied to classes, this form is demonstrated.
template <class T> requires dividable<T>
class DivideEmUp
{
public:
    T Divide(T x, T y)
    {
        return x / y;
    }
};

int main()
{
    DivideEmUp<int> dividerOfInts;
    std::cout << dividerOfInts.Divide(6, 3); // outputs 2
    // The following line will not compile because the template can't be instantiated 
    // with char* because char* can be divided
    DivideEmUp<char*> dividerOfCharPtrs; // compiler error: cannot deduce template arguments 
}

When you pass the compiler switch /diagnostics:caret to Visual Studio 2022 version 17.4 preview 4 or later, the error that concept dividable<char*> evaluated to false will point directly to the expression requirement (a / b) that failed.

Iterator concepts are defined in the std namespace, and are declared in the <iterator> header file. They're used in the declarations of range adaptors, views, and so on.

There are six categories of iterators. They're directly related to the categories of ranges listed under Range concepts.

The following iterator concepts are listed in order of increasing capability. input_or_output_iterator is at the low end of the capability hierarchy, and contiguous_iterator is at the high end. Iterators higher in the hierarchy can generally be used in place of those that are lower, but not vice-versa. For example, a random_access_iterator iterator can be used in place of a forward_iterator, but not the other way around. An exception is input_iterator, which can't be used in place of output_iterator because it can't write.

In the following table, "Multi-pass" refers to whether the iterator can revisit the same element more than once. For example, vector::iterator is a multi-pass iterator because you can make a copy of the iterator, read the elements in the collection, and then restore the iterator to the value in the copy, and revisit the same elements again. If an iterator is single-pass, you can only visit the elements in the collection once.

In the following table, "Example types" refers to collections/iterators that satisfy the concept.

Iterator concept	Description	Direction	Read/write	Multi-pass	Example types
input_or_output_iteratorC++20	The basis of the iterator concept taxonomy.	Forward	Read/write	no	istream_iterator, ostream_iterator
output_iteratorC++20	Specifies an iterator that you can write to.	Forward	Write	no	ostream, inserter
input_iteratorC++20	Specifies an iterator that you can read from once.	Forward	Read	no	istream, istreambuf_iterator
forward_iteratorC++20	Specifies an iterator that can read (and possibly write) multiple times.	Forward	Read/write	yes	vector, list
bidirectional_iteratorC++20	Specifies an iterator that you can read and write both forwards and backwards.	Forward or backward	Read/write	yes	list, set, multiset, map, and multimap.
random_access_iteratorC++20	Specifies an iterator that you can read and write by index.	Forward or backward	Read/write	yes	vector, array, deque
contiguous_iteratorC++20	Specifies an iterator whose elements are sequential in memory, are the same size, and can be accessed using pointer arithmetic.	Forward or backward	Read/write	yes	array, vector string.

Other iterator concepts include:

Iterator concept	Description
sentinel_forC++20	Specifies that a type is a sentinel for an iterator type.
sized_sentinel_forC++20	Specifies that an iterator and its sentinel can be subtracted (using -) to find their difference in constant time.

bidirectional_iterator

A bidirectional_iterator supports reading and writing forwards and backwards.

template<class I>
concept bidirectional_iterator =
    forward_iterator<I> &&
    derived_from<ITER_CONCEPT(I), bidirectional_iterator_tag> &&
    requires(I i) {
        {--i} -> same_as<I&>;
        {i--} -> same_as<I>;
};

Parameters

I
The iterator to test to see if it's a bidirectional_iterator.

Remarks

A bidirectional_iterator has the capabilities of a forward_iterator, but can also iterate backwards.

Some examples of containers that can be used with a bidirectional_iterator are set, multiset, map, multimap, vector, and list.

Example: bidirectional_iterator

The following example uses the bidirectional_iterator concept to show that vector<int> has a bidirectional_iterator:

// requires /std:c++20 or later
#include <iostream>
#include <vector>

int main()
{
    std::cout << std::boolalpha << std::bidirectional_iterator<std::vector<int>::iterator> << '\n'; // outputs "true"

    // another way to test
    std::vector<int> v = {0,1,2};
    std::cout << std::boolalpha << std::contiguous_iterator<decltype(v)::iterator>; // outputs true
}

contiguous_iterator

Specifies an iterator whose elements are sequential in memory, are the same size, and can be accessed using pointer arithmetic.

template<class I>
    concept contiguous_iterator =
        random_access_iterator<I> &&
        derived_from<ITER_CONCEPT(I), contiguous_iterator_tag> &&
        is_lvalue_reference_v<iter_reference_t<I>> &&
        same_as<iter_value_t<I>, remove_cvref_t<iter_reference_t<I>>> &&
        requires(const I& i) {
            { to_address(i) } -> same_as<add_pointer_t<iter_reference_t<I>>>;
        };

Parameters

I
The type to test to see if it's a contiguous_iterator.

Remarks

A contiguous_iterator can be accessed by pointer arithmetic because the elements are laid out sequentially in memory and are the same size. Some examples of a contiguous_iterator are array, vector, and string.

Example: contiguous_iterator

The following example uses the contiguous_iterator concept to show that a vector<int> has a contiguous_iterator:

// requires /std:c++20 or later
#include <iostream>
#include <vector>

int main()
{
    // Show that vector<int> has a contiguous_iterator
    std::cout << std::boolalpha << std::contiguous_iterator<std::vector<int>::iterator> << '\n'; // outputs "true"
    
    // another way to test
    std::vector<int> v = {0,1,2};
    std::cout << std::boolalpha << std::contiguous_iterator<decltype(v)::iterator>; // outputs true
}

forward_iterator

Has the capabilities of an input_iterator and an output_iterator. Supports iterating over a collection multiple times.

template<class I>
    concept forward_iterator =
        input_iterator<I> &&
        derived_from<ITER_CONCEPT(I), forward_iterator_tag> &&
        incrementable<I> &&
        sentinel_for<I, I>;

Parameters

I
The iterator to test to see if it's a forward_iterator.

Remarks

A forward_iterator can only move forward.

Some examples of containers that can be used with a forward_iterator are vector, list, unordered_set, unordered_multiset, unordered_map, and unordered_multimap.

Example: forward_iterator

The following example uses the forward_iterator concept to show that a vector<int> has a forward_iterator:

// requires /std:c++20 or later
#include <iostream>
#include <vector>

int main()
{
    // Show that vector has a forward_iterator
    std::cout << std::boolalpha << std::forward_iterator<std::vector<int>::iterator> << '\n'; // outputs "true"

    // another way to test
    std::vector<int> v = {0,1,2};
    std::cout << std::boolalpha << std::forward_iterator<decltype(v)::iterator>; // outputs true
}

input_iterator

An input_iterator is an iterator that you can read from at least once.

template<class I>
concept input_iterator =
    input_or_output_iterator<I> &&
    indirectly_readable<I> &&
    requires { typename ITER_CONCEPT(I); } &&
    derived_from<ITER_CONCEPT(I), input_iterator_tag>;

Parameters

I
The type to test to see if it's an input_iterator.

Remarks

Calling begin() on an input_iterator more than once results in undefined behavior. A type that only models input_iterator isn't multi-pass. Consider reading from standard input (cin) for example. In this case, you can only read the current element once and you can't re-read characters you've already read. An input_iterator only reads forward, not backwards.

Example: input_iterator

The following example uses the input_iterator concept to show that an istream_iterator has an input_iterator:

// requires /std:c++20 or later
#include <iostream>

int main()
{
    // Show that a istream_iterator has an input_iterator
    std::cout << std::boolalpha << std::input_iterator<std::istream_iterator<int>>; // outputs true
}

input_or_output_iterator

An input_or_output_iterator is the basis of the iterator concept taxonomy. It supports dereferencing and incrementing an iterator. Every iterator models input_or_output_iterator.

template<class I>
concept input_or_output_iterator =
    requires(I i) {
        { *i } -> can-reference;
    } &&
    weakly_incrementable<I>;

Parameters

I
The type to test to see if it's an input_or_output_iterator.

Remarks

The concept can-reference means that the type I is a reference, a pointer, or a type that can be implicitly converted to a reference.

Example: input_or_output_iterator

The following example uses the input_or_output_iterator concept to show that vector<int> has an input_or_output_iterator:

// requires /std:c++20 or later
#include <iostream>

int main()
{
    // Show that a vector has an input_or_output_iterator
    std::cout << std::boolalpha << std::input_or_output_iterator<std::vector<int>::iterator> << '\n'; // outputs true

    // another way to test
    std::vector<int> v = {0,1,2};
    std::cout << std::boolalpha << std::input_or_output_iterator<decltype(v)::iterator>; // outputs true
}

output_iterator

An output_iterator is an iterator that you can write to.

template<class I, class T>
concept output_iterator =
    input_or_output_iterator<I> &&
    indirectly_writable<I, T> &&
    requires(I i, T&& t) {
        *i++ = std::forward<T>(t);
    };

Parameters

I
The type to test to see if it's an output_iterator.

T
The type of the values to write.

Remarks

An output_iterator is single pass. That is, it can only write to the same element once.

Example: output_iterator

The following example uses the output_iterator concept to show that vector<int> has an output_iterator:

// requires /std:c++20 or later
#include <iostream>
#include <vector>

int main()
{
    // Show that vector<int> has an output_iterator
    std::cout << std::boolalpha << std::output_iterator<std::vector<int>::iterator, int> << "\n"; // outputs "true"

    // another way to test
    std::vector<int> v = {0,1,2,3,4,5};
    std::cout << std::boolalpha << std::output_iterator<decltype(v)::iterator, int>; // outputs true
}

random_access_iterator

A random_access_iterator can read or write by index.

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

Parameters

I
The type to test to see if it's a random_access_iterator.

Remarks

A random_access_iterator has the capabilities of an input_iterator, output_iterator, forward_iterator, and bidirectional_iterator.

Some examples of a random_access_iterator are vector, array, and deque.

Example: random_access_iterator

The following example shows that a vector<int> has a random_access_iterator:

// requires /std:c++20 or later
#include <iostream>
#include <vector>

int main()
{
    // Show that vector<int> has a random_access_iterator
    std::cout << std::boolalpha << std::random_access_iterator<std::vector<int>::iterator> << '\n'; // outputs "true"

    // another way to test
    std::vector<int> v = {0,1,2};
    std::cout << std::boolalpha << std::random_access_iterator<decltype(v)::iterator>; // outputs true
}    

sentinel_for

Specifies that a type is a sentinel for an iterator.

template<class S, class I>
concept sentinel_for =
    semiregular<S> &&
    input_or_output_iterator<I> &&
    weakly-equality-comparable-with <S, I>;

Parameters

I
The iterator type.

S
The type to test to see if it's a sentinel for I.

Remarks

A sentinel is a type that can be compared to an iterator to determine if the iterator has reached the end. This concept determines if a type is a sentinel for one of the input_or_output_iterator types, which includes input_iterator, output_iterator, forward_iterator, bidirectional_iterator, random_access_iterator, and contiguous_iterator.

Example: sentinel_for

The following example uses the sentinel_for concept to show that vector<int>::iterator is a sentinel for vector<int>:

// requires /std:c++20 or later
#include <iostream>
#include <vector>

int main()
{
    std::vector<int> v = {0, 1, 2};
    std::vector<int>::iterator i = v.begin();
    // show that vector<int>::iterator is a sentinel for vector<int>
    std::cout << std::boolalpha << std::sentinel_for<std::vector<int>::iterator, decltype(i)>; // outputs true
}    

sized_sentinel_for

Test that an iterator and its sentinel can be subtracted using - to find the difference, in constant time.

template<class S, class I>
concept sized_sentinel_for =
    sentinel_for<S, I> &&
    !disable_sized_sentinel_for<remove_cv_t<S>, remove_cv_t<I>> &&
    requires(const I& i, const S& s) {
        {s - i} -> same_as<iter_difference_t<I>>;
        {i - s} -> same_as<iter_difference_t<I>>;
    };

Parameters

I
The iterator type.

S
The sentinel type to test.

Remarks

Example: sized_sentinel_for

The following example uses the sized_sentinel_for concept to verify that the sentinel for a vector<int> can be subtracted from the vectors iterator in constant time:

// requires /std:c++20 or later
#include <iostream>
#include <vector>

int main()
{
    std::vector<int> v = { 1, 2, 3 };
    std::vector<int>::iterator i = v.begin();
    std::vector<int>::iterator end = v.end();
    // use the sized_sentinel_for concept to verify that i can be subtracted from end in constant time
    std::cout << std::boolalpha << std::sized_sentinel_for<decltype(end), decltype(i)> << "\n"; // outputs true
    std::cout << end - i; // outputs 3
}    

See also

Range concepts
Range adaptors
View classes