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3539. format_to must not copy models of output_iterator<const charT&>

Section: 28.5.5 [format.functions] Status: C++23 Submitter: Casey Carter Opened: 2021-03-31 Last modified: 2023-11-22

Priority: Not Prioritized

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Discussion:

28.5.5 [format.functions] specifies the overloads of format_to as:

template<class Out, class... Args>
  Out format_to(Out out, string_view fmt, const Args&... args);
template<class Out, class... Args>
  Out format_to(Out out, wstring_view fmt, const Args&... args);

-8- Effects: Equivalent to:

using context = basic_format_context<Out, decltype(fmt)::value_type>;
return vformat_to(out, fmt, make_format_args<context>(args...));

template<class Out, class... Args>
  Out format_to(Out out, const locale& loc, string_view fmt, const Args&... args);
template<class Out, class... Args>
  Out format_to(Out out, const locale& loc, wstring_view fmt, const Args&... args);
  Out format_to(Out out, wstring_view fmt, const Args&... args);

-9- Effects: Equivalent to:

using context = basic_format_context<Out, decltype(fmt)::value_type>;
return vformat_to(out, loc, fmt, make_format_args<context>(args...));

but the overloads of vformat_to take their first argument by value (from the same subclause):

template<class Out>
  Out vformat_to(Out out, string_view fmt,
                 format_args_t<type_identity_t<Out>, char> args);
template<class Out>
  Out vformat_to(Out out, wstring_view fmt,
                 format_args_t<type_identity_t<Out>, wchar_t> args);
template<class Out>
  Out vformat_to(Out out, const locale& loc, string_view fmt,
                 format_args_t<type_identity_t<Out>, char> args);
template<class Out>
  Out vformat_to(Out out, const locale& loc, wstring_view fmt,
                 format_args_t<type_identity_t<Out>, wchar_t> args);

-10- Let charT be decltype(fmt)::value_type.

-11- Constraints: Out satisfies output_iterator<const charT&>.

-12- Preconditions: Out models output_iterator<const charT&>.

and require its type to model output_iterator<const charT&>. output_iterator<T, U> refines input_or_output_iterator<T> which refines movable<T>, but it notably does not refine copyable<T>. Consequently, the "Equivalent to" code for the format_to overloads is copying an iterator that could be move-only. I suspect it is not the intent that calls to format_to with move-only iterators be ill-formed, but that it was simply an oversight that this wording needs updating to be consistent with the change to allow move-only single-pass iterators in C++20.

[2021-04-20; Reflector poll]

Set status to Tentatively Ready after seven votes in favour during reflector poll.

[2021-06-07 Approved at June 2021 virtual plenary. Status changed: Voting → WP.]

Proposed resolution:

This wording is relative to N4885.

1. Modify 28.5.5 [format.functions] as indicated:

   template<class Out, class... Args>
     Out format_to(Out out, string_view fmt, const Args&... args);
   template<class Out, class... Args>
     Out format_to(Out out, wstring_view fmt, const Args&... args);
   

   -8- Effects: Equivalent to:

   using context = basic_format_context<Out, decltype(fmt)::value_type>;
   return vformat_to(std::move(out), fmt, make_format_args<context>(args...));
   

   template<class Out, class... Args>
     Out format_to(Out out, const locale& loc, string_view fmt, const Args&... args);
   template<class Out, class... Args>
     Out format_to(Out out, const locale& loc, wstring_view fmt, const Args&... args);
   

   -9- Effects: Equivalent to:

   using context = basic_format_context<Out, decltype(fmt)::value_type>;
   return vformat_to(std::move(out), loc, fmt, make_format_args<context>(args...));