22 General utilities library [utilities]

22.2 Utility components [utility]

22.2.1 Header <utility> synopsis [utility.syn]

The header <utility> contains some basic function and class templates that are used throughout the rest of the library.
// all freestanding #include <compare> // see [compare.syn] #include <initializer_list> // see [initializer.list.syn] namespace std { // [utility.swap], swap template<class T> constexpr void swap(T& a, T& b) noexcept(see below); template<class T, size_t N> constexpr void swap(T (&a)[N], T (&b)[N]) noexcept(is_nothrow_swappable_v<T>); // [utility.exchange], exchange template<class T, class U = T> constexpr T exchange(T& obj, U&& new_val) noexcept(see below); // [forward], forward/move template<class T> constexpr T&& forward(remove_reference_t<T>& t) noexcept; template<class T> constexpr T&& forward(remove_reference_t<T>&& t) noexcept; template<class T, class U> [[nodiscard]] constexpr auto forward_like(U&& x) noexcept -> see below; template<class T> constexpr remove_reference_t<T>&& move(T&&) noexcept; template<class T> constexpr conditional_t< !is_nothrow_move_constructible_v<T> && is_copy_constructible_v<T>, const T&, T&&> move_if_noexcept(T& x) noexcept; // [utility.as.const], as_const template<class T> constexpr add_const_t<T>& as_const(T& t) noexcept; template<class T> void as_const(const T&&) = delete; // [declval], declval template<class T> add_rvalue_reference_t<T> declval() noexcept; // as unevaluated operand // [utility.intcmp], integer comparison functions template<class T, class U> constexpr bool cmp_equal(T t, U u) noexcept; template<class T, class U> constexpr bool cmp_not_equal(T t, U u) noexcept; template<class T, class U> constexpr bool cmp_less(T t, U u) noexcept; template<class T, class U> constexpr bool cmp_greater(T t, U u) noexcept; template<class T, class U> constexpr bool cmp_less_equal(T t, U u) noexcept; template<class T, class U> constexpr bool cmp_greater_equal(T t, U u) noexcept; template<class R, class T> constexpr bool in_range(T t) noexcept; // [utility.underlying], to_underlying template<class T> constexpr underlying_type_t<T> to_underlying(T value) noexcept; // [utility.unreachable], unreachable [[noreturn]] void unreachable(); // [intseq], compile-time integer sequences template<class T, T...> struct integer_sequence; template<size_t... I> using index_sequence = integer_sequence<size_t, I...>; template<class T, T N> using make_integer_sequence = integer_sequence<T, see below>; template<size_t N> using make_index_sequence = make_integer_sequence<size_t, N>; template<class... T> using index_sequence_for = make_index_sequence<sizeof...(T)>; // [pairs], class template pair template<class T1, class T2> struct pair; template<class T1, class T2, class U1, class U2, template<class> class TQual, template<class> class UQual> requires requires { typename pair<common_reference_t<TQual<T1>, UQual<U1>>, common_reference_t<TQual<T2>, UQual<U2>>>; } struct basic_common_reference<pair<T1, T2>, pair<U1, U2>, TQual, UQual> { using type = pair<common_reference_t<TQual<T1>, UQual<U1>>, common_reference_t<TQual<T2>, UQual<U2>>>; }; template<class T1, class T2, class U1, class U2> requires requires { typename pair<common_type_t<T1, U1>, common_type_t<T2, U2>>; } struct common_type<pair<T1, T2>, pair<U1, U2>> { using type = pair<common_type_t<T1, U1>, common_type_t<T2, U2>>; }; // [pairs.spec], pair specialized algorithms template<class T1, class T2, class U1, class U2> constexpr bool operator==(const pair<T1, T2>&, const pair<U1, U2>&); template<class T1, class T2, class U1, class U2> constexpr common_comparison_category_t<synth-three-way-result<T1, U1>, synth-three-way-result<T2, U2>> operator<=>(const pair<T1, T2>&, const pair<U1, U2>&); template<class T1, class T2> constexpr void swap(pair<T1, T2>& x, pair<T1, T2>& y) noexcept(noexcept(x.swap(y))); template<class T1, class T2> constexpr void swap(const pair<T1, T2>& x, const pair<T1, T2>& y) noexcept(noexcept(x.swap(y))); template<class T1, class T2> constexpr see below make_pair(T1&&, T2&&); // [pair.astuple], tuple-like access to pair template<class T> struct tuple_size; template<size_t I, class T> struct tuple_element; template<class T1, class T2> struct tuple_size<pair<T1, T2>>; template<size_t I, class T1, class T2> struct tuple_element<I, pair<T1, T2>>; template<size_t I, class T1, class T2> constexpr tuple_element_t<I, pair<T1, T2>>& get(pair<T1, T2>&) noexcept; template<size_t I, class T1, class T2> constexpr tuple_element_t<I, pair<T1, T2>>&& get(pair<T1, T2>&&) noexcept; template<size_t I, class T1, class T2> constexpr const tuple_element_t<I, pair<T1, T2>>& get(const pair<T1, T2>&) noexcept; template<size_t I, class T1, class T2> constexpr const tuple_element_t<I, pair<T1, T2>>&& get(const pair<T1, T2>&&) noexcept; template<class T1, class T2> constexpr T1& get(pair<T1, T2>& p) noexcept; template<class T1, class T2> constexpr const T1& get(const pair<T1, T2>& p) noexcept; template<class T1, class T2> constexpr T1&& get(pair<T1, T2>&& p) noexcept; template<class T1, class T2> constexpr const T1&& get(const pair<T1, T2>&& p) noexcept; template<class T2, class T1> constexpr T2& get(pair<T1, T2>& p) noexcept; template<class T2, class T1> constexpr const T2& get(const pair<T1, T2>& p) noexcept; template<class T2, class T1> constexpr T2&& get(pair<T1, T2>&& p) noexcept; template<class T2, class T1> constexpr const T2&& get(const pair<T1, T2>&& p) noexcept; // [pair.piecewise], pair piecewise construction struct piecewise_construct_t { explicit piecewise_construct_t() = default; }; inline constexpr piecewise_construct_t piecewise_construct{}; template<class... Types> class tuple; // defined in <tuple> // in-place construction struct in_place_t { explicit in_place_t() = default; }; inline constexpr in_place_t in_place{}; template<class T> struct in_place_type_t { explicit in_place_type_t() = default; }; template<class T> constexpr in_place_type_t<T> in_place_type{}; template<size_t I> struct in_place_index_t { explicit in_place_index_t() = default; }; template<size_t I> constexpr in_place_index_t<I> in_place_index{}; // nontype argument tag template<auto V> struct nontype_t { explicit nontype_t() = default; }; template<auto V> constexpr nontype_t<V> nontype{}; }

22.2.2 swap [utility.swap]

template<class T> constexpr void swap(T& a, T& b) noexcept(see below);
Constraints: is_move_constructible_v<T> is true and is_move_assignable_v<T> is true.
Preconditions: Type T meets the Cpp17MoveConstructible (Table 31) and Cpp17MoveAssignable (Table 33) requirements.
Effects: Exchanges values stored in two locations.
Remarks: The exception specification is equivalent to: is_nothrow_move_constructible_v<T> && is_nothrow_move_assignable_v<T>
template<class T, size_t N> constexpr void swap(T (&a)[N], T (&b)[N]) noexcept(is_nothrow_swappable_v<T>);
Constraints: is_swappable_v<T> is true.
Preconditions: a[i] is swappable with ([swappable.requirements]) b[i] for all i in the range [0, N).
Effects: As if by swap_ranges(a, a + N, b).

22.2.3 exchange [utility.exchange]

template<class T, class U = T> constexpr T exchange(T& obj, U&& new_val) noexcept(see below);
Effects: Equivalent to: T old_val = std::move(obj); obj = std::forward<U>(new_val); return old_val;
Remarks: The exception specification is equivalent to: is_nothrow_move_constructible_v<T> && is_nothrow_assignable_v<T&, U>

22.2.4 Forward/move helpers [forward]

The library provides templated helper functions to simplify applying move semantics to an lvalue and to simplify the implementation of forwarding functions.
All functions specified in this subclause are signal-safe.
template<class T> constexpr T&& forward(remove_reference_t<T>& t) noexcept; template<class T> constexpr T&& forward(remove_reference_t<T>&& t) noexcept;
Mandates: For the second overload, is_lvalue_reference_v<T> is false.
Returns: static_cast<T&&>(t).
[Example 1: template<class T, class A1, class A2> shared_ptr<T> factory(A1&& a1, A2&& a2) { return shared_ptr<T>(new T(std::forward<A1>(a1), std::forward<A2>(a2))); } struct A { A(int&, const double&); }; void g() { shared_ptr<A> sp1 = factory<A>(2, 1.414); // error: 2 will not bind to int& int i = 2; shared_ptr<A> sp2 = factory<A>(i, 1.414); // OK }
In the first call to factory, A1 is deduced as int, so 2 is forwarded to A's constructor as an rvalue.
In the second call to factory, A1 is deduced as int&, so i is forwarded to A's constructor as an lvalue.
In both cases, A2 is deduced as double, so 1.414 is forwarded to A's constructor as an rvalue.
— end example]
template<class T, class U> [[nodiscard]] constexpr auto forward_like(U&& x) noexcept -> see below;
Mandates: T is a referenceable type ([defns.referenceable]).
  • Let COPY_CONST(A, B) be const B if A is a const type, otherwise B.
  • Let OVERRIDE_REF(A, B) be remove_reference_t<B>&& if A is an rvalue reference type, otherwise B&.
  • Let V be OVERRIDE_REF(T&&, COPY_CONST(remove_reference_t<T>, remove_reference_t<U>))
Returns: static_cast<V>(x).
Remarks: The return type is V.
[Example 2: struct accessor { vector<string>* container; decltype(auto) operator[](this auto&& self, size_t i) { return std::forward_like<decltype(self)>((*container)[i]); } }; void g() { vector v{"a"s, "b"s}; accessor a{&v}; string& x = a[0]; // OK, binds to lvalue reference string&& y = std::move(a)[0]; // OK, is rvalue reference string const&& z = std::move(as_const(a))[1]; // OK, is const&& string& w = as_const(a)[1]; // error: will not bind to non-const } — end example]
template<class T> constexpr remove_reference_t<T>&& move(T&& t) noexcept;
Returns: static_cast<remove_reference_t<T>&&>(t).
[Example 3: template<class T, class A1> shared_ptr<T> factory(A1&& a1) { return shared_ptr<T>(new T(std::forward<A1>(a1))); } struct A { A(); A(const A&); // copies from lvalues A(A&&); // moves from rvalues }; void g() { A a; shared_ptr<A> sp1 = factory<A>(a); // “a'' binds to A(const A&) shared_ptr<A> sp2 = factory<A>(std::move(a)); // “a'' binds to A(A&&) }
In the first call to factory, A1 is deduced as A&, so a is forwarded as a non-const lvalue.
This binds to the constructor A(const A&), which copies the value from a.
In the second call to factory, because of the call std​::​move(a), A1 is deduced as A, so a is forwarded as an rvalue.
This binds to the constructor A(A&&), which moves the value from a.
— end example]
template<class T> constexpr conditional_t< !is_nothrow_move_constructible_v<T> && is_copy_constructible_v<T>, const T&, T&&> move_if_noexcept(T& x) noexcept;
Returns: std​::​move(x).

22.2.5 Function template as_const [utility.as.const]

template<class T> constexpr add_const_t<T>& as_const(T& t) noexcept;
Returns: t.

22.2.6 Function template declval [declval]

The library provides the function template declval to simplify the definition of expressions which occur as unevaluated operands.
template<class T> add_rvalue_reference_t<T> declval() noexcept; // as unevaluated operand
Mandates: This function is not odr-used ([basic.def.odr]).
Remarks: The template parameter T of declval may be an incomplete type.
[Example 1: 
template<class To, class From> decltype(static_cast<To>(declval<From>())) convert(From&&); declares a function template convert which only participates in overload resolution if the type From can be explicitly converted to type To.
For another example see class template common_type ([meta.trans.other]).
— end example]

22.2.7 Integer comparison functions [utility.intcmp]

template<class T, class U> constexpr bool cmp_equal(T t, U u) noexcept;
Mandates: Both T and U are standard integer types or extended integer types ([basic.fundamental]).
Effects: Equivalent to: using UT = make_unsigned_t<T>; using UU = make_unsigned_t<U>; if constexpr (is_signed_v<T> == is_signed_v<U>) return t == u; else if constexpr (is_signed_v<T>) return t < 0 ? false : UT(t) == u; else return u < 0 ? false : t == UU(u);
template<class T, class U> constexpr bool cmp_not_equal(T t, U u) noexcept;
Effects: Equivalent to: return !cmp_equal(t, u);
template<class T, class U> constexpr bool cmp_less(T t, U u) noexcept;
Mandates: Both T and U are standard integer types or extended integer types ([basic.fundamental]).
Effects: Equivalent to: using UT = make_unsigned_t<T>; using UU = make_unsigned_t<U>; if constexpr (is_signed_v<T> == is_signed_v<U>) return t < u; else if constexpr (is_signed_v<T>) return t < 0 ? true : UT(t) < u; else return u < 0 ? false : t < UU(u);
template<class T, class U> constexpr bool cmp_greater(T t, U u) noexcept;
Effects: Equivalent to: return cmp_less(u, t);
template<class T, class U> constexpr bool cmp_less_equal(T t, U u) noexcept;
Effects: Equivalent to: return !cmp_greater(t, u);
template<class T, class U> constexpr bool cmp_greater_equal(T t, U u) noexcept;
Effects: Equivalent to: return !cmp_less(t, u);
template<class R, class T> constexpr bool in_range(T t) noexcept;
Mandates: Both T and R are standard integer types or extended integer types ([basic.fundamental]).
Effects: Equivalent to: return cmp_greater_equal(t, numeric_limits<R>::min()) && cmp_less_equal(t, numeric_limits<R>::max());
[Note 1: 
These function templates cannot be used to compare byte, char, char8_t, char16_t, char32_t, wchar_t, and bool.
— end note]

22.2.8 Function template to_underlying [utility.underlying]

template<class T> constexpr underlying_type_t<T> to_underlying(T value) noexcept;
Returns: static_cast<underlying_type_t<T>>(value).

22.2.9 Function unreachable [utility.unreachable]

[[noreturn]] void unreachable();
Preconditions: false is true.
[Note 1: 
This precondition cannot be satisfied, thus the behavior of calling unreachable is undefined.
— end note]
[Example 1: int f(int x) { switch (x) { case 0: case 1: return x; default: std::unreachable(); } } int a = f(1); // OK, a has value 1 int b = f(3); // undefined behavior — end example]