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3435. three_way_comparable_with<reverse_iterator<int*>, reverse_iterator<const int*>>

Section: 24.5.4.4 [move.iter.cons], 24.5.1.4 [reverse.iter.cons] Status: C++23 Submitter: Casey Carter Opened: 2020-04-26 Last modified: 2023-11-22

Priority: 2

View all other issues in [move.iter.cons].

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Discussion:

Despite that reverse_iterator<int*> and reverse_iterator<const int*> are comparable with <=>, three_way_comparable_with<reverse_iterator<int*>, reverse_iterator<const int*>> is false. This unfortunate state of affairs results from the absence of constraints on reverse_iterator's converting constructor: both convertible_to<reverse_iterator<int*>, reverse_iterator<const int*>> and convertible_to<reverse_iterator<const int*>, reverse_iterator<int*>> evaluate to true, despite that reverse_iterator<int*>'s converting constructor template is ill-formed when instantiated for reverse_iterator<const int*>. This apparent bi-convertibility results in ambiguity when trying to determine common_reference_t<const reverse_iterator<int*>&, const reverse_iterator<const int*>&>, causing the common_reference requirement in three_way_comparable_with to fail.

I think we should correct this by constraining reverse_iterator's conversion constructor (and converting assignment operator, while we're here) correctly so we can use the concept to determine when it's ok to compare specializations of reverse_iterator with <=>.

move_iterator has similar issues due to its similarly unconstrained conversions. We should fix both similarly.

[2020-07-17; Priority set to 2 in telecon]

[2020-07-26; Reflector poll]

Set status to Tentatively Ready after five votes in favour during reflector discussions.

[2020-11-09 Approved In November virtual meeting. Status changed: Tentatively Ready → WP.]

Proposed resolution:

This wording is relative to N4861.

1. Modify 24.5.4.4 [move.iter.cons] as indicated:

   [Drafting note: this incorporates and supercedes the P/R of LWG 3265⁽ⁱ⁾.]

   constexpr move_iterator();
   

   -1- Effects: Constructs a move_iterator, vValue-initializesing current. Iterator operations applied to the resulting iterator have defined behavior if and only if the corresponding operations are defined on a value-initialized iterator of type Iterator.

   constexpr explicit move_iterator(Iterator i);
   

   -2- Effects: Constructs a move_iterator, iInitializesing current with std::move(i).

   template<class U> constexpr move_iterator(const move_iterator<U>& u);
   

   -3- Mandates: U is convertible to IteratorConstraints: is_same_v<U, Iterator> is false and const U& models convertible_to<Iterator>.

   -4- Effects: Constructs a move_iterator, iInitializesing current with u.currentbase().

   template<class U> constexpr move_iterator& operator=(const move_iterator<U>& u);
   

   -5- Mandates: U is convertible to IteratorConstraints: is_same_v<U, Iterator> is false, const U& models convertible_to<Iterator>, and assignable_from<Iterator&, const U&> is modeled.

   -6- Effects: Assigns u.currentbase() to current.

2. Modify 24.5.1.4 [reverse.iter.cons] as indicated:

   template<class U> constexpr reverse_iterator(const reverse_iterator<U>& u);
   

   -?- Constraints: is_same_v<U, Iterator> is false and const U& models convertible_to<Iterator>.

   -3- Effects: Initializes current with u.current.

   template<class U>
     constexpr reverse_iterator&
       operator=(const reverse_iterator<U>& u);
   

   -?- Constraints: is_same_v<U, Iterator> is false, const U& models convertible_to<Iterator>, and assignable_from<Iterator&, const U&> is modeled.

   -4- Effects: Assigns u.currentbase() to current.

   -5- Returns: *this.