std::forward_iterator

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Iterator library
Iterator concepts
forward_iterator
(C++20)


Iterator primitives
Algorithm concepts and utilities
Indirect callable concepts
Common algorithm requirements
(C++20)
(C++20)
(C++20)
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(C++20)
Iterator adaptors
Range access
(C++11)(C++14)
(C++14)(C++14)
(C++11)(C++14)
(C++14)(C++14)
(C++17)(C++20)
(C++17)
(C++17)
Defined in header <iterator>
template < class I >

concept forward_iterator =
std::input_iterator <I> &&
std::derived_from < /*ITER_CONCEPT*/ <I>, std::forward_iterator_tag > &&
std::incrementable <I> &&

std::sentinel_for <I, I> ;
(since C++20)

This concept refines std::input_iterator by requiring that I also model std::incrementable

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>

  • If ITER_TRAITS<I>::iterator_concept is valid and names a type, /*ITER_CONCEPT*/<I>
  • Otherwise, if ITER_TRAITS<I>::iterator_category is valid and names a type, /*ITER_CONCEPT*/<I>
  • 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>

Semantic requirements

I models std::forward_iterator if, and only if I models all the concepts it subsumes, and given objects i and j of type I

  • Comparison between iterators i and j has a defined result if
  • i and j are iterators to the same underlying sequence, or
  • both i and j are value-initialized, in which case they compare equal.
  • Pointers and references obtained from a forward iterator into a range remain valid while the range exists.
  • If i and j are dereferenceable, they offer the multi-pass guarantee, that is:
  • i == j implies ++i == ++j
  • ( ( void ) [ ] ( auto x) { ++x; } (i), *i) is equivalent to *i

Notes

Unlike the LegacyForwardIterator requirements, the forward_iterator

Example

A minimum forward iterator.

#include <cstddef>
#include <iterator>
 
struct SimpleForwardIterator
{
    using difference_type = std::ptrdiff_t;
    using value_type = int;
 
    int operator*() const;
 
    SimpleForwardIterator& operator++();
 
    SimpleForwardIterator operator++(int)
    {
        auto tmp = *this;
        ++*this;
        return tmp;
    }
 
    bool operator==(const SimpleForwardIterator&) const;
};
 
static_assert(std::forward_iterator<SimpleForwardIterator>);

See also

(C++20)
specifies that a type is an input iterator, that is, its referenced values can be read and it can be both pre- and post-incremented
(concept)
specifies that a forward_iterator is a bidirectional iterator, supporting movement backwards
(concept)