std::ranges::begin

Returns an iterator to the first element of the argument.

If the argument is an lvalue or ranges::enable_borrowed_range <std::remove_cv_t <T>> is true, then a call to ranges::begin is expression-equivalent to:

1. t + 0 if t has an array type.
   • If std::remove_all_extents_t <std::remove_reference_t <T>> is incomplete, then the call to ranges::begin is ill-formed, no diagnostic required.
2. Otherwise, decay-copy (t.begin())(until C++23)auto(t.begin())(since C++23), if that expression is valid and its type models std::input_or_output_iterator .
3. Otherwise, decay-copy (begin(t))(until C++23)auto(begin(t))(since C++23), if T is a class or enumeration type, that expression is valid and its type models std::input_or_output_iterator , where the meaning of begin is established as if by performing argument-dependent lookup only.

In all other cases, a call to ranges::begin is ill-formed, which can result in substitution failure when the call appears in the immediate context of a template instantiation.

Customization point objects

The name ranges::begin denotes a customization point object, which is a const function object of a literal semiregular class type. See CustomizationPointObject for details.

[edit] Notes

If the argument is an rvalue (i.e. T is an object type) and ranges::enable_borrowed_range <std::remove_cv_t <T>> is false, the call to ranges::begin is ill-formed, which also results in substitution failure.

The return type models std::input_or_output_iterator in all cases.

The C++20 standard requires that if the underlying begin function call returns a prvalue, the return value is move-constructed from the materialized temporary object. All implementations directly return the prvalue instead. The requirement is corrected by the post-C++20 proposal P0849R8 to match the implementations.

[edit] Example

#include <cassert>
#include <ranges>
#include <vector>
 
int main() 
{
 std::vector v{3, 1, 4};
 auto vi = std::ranges::begin(v);
 auto vci = std::ranges::cbegin (v);
 assert (*vi == 3 and *vi == *vci);
 ++vi;
 ++vci; // OK: vci is modifiable object
 *vi = 42; // OK: vi points to mutable element
 // *vci = 13; // Error: vci points to immutable element
 
 int a[]{-5, 10, 15};
 auto ai = std::ranges::begin(a); // works with C-arrays as well
 assert (*ai == -5);
 *ai = 42; // OK
}

[edit] Defect reports

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

[edit] See also