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3715. view_interface::empty is overconstrained

Section: 26.5.3.1 [view.interface.general] Status: WP Submitter: Hewill Kang Opened: 2022-06-12 Last modified: 2022-07-25

Priority: Not Prioritized

View all other issues in [view.interface.general].

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Discussion:

Currently, view_interface::empty has the following constraints

constexpr bool empty() requires forward_range<D> {
  return ranges::begin(derived()) == ranges::end(derived());
}

which seems reasonable, since we need to guarantee the equality preservation of the expression ranges::begin(r).

However, this prevents a more efficient way in some cases, i.e., when D models sized_range, we only need to determine whether the value of ranges::size is 0. Since sized_range and forward_range are orthogonal to each other, this also prevents any range that models sized_range but not forward_range.

Consider:

#include <iostream>
#include <ranges>

int main() {
  auto f = std::views::iota(0, 5)
         | std::views::filter([](int) { return true; });
  auto r = std::views::counted(f.begin(), 4)
         | std::views::slide(2);
  std::cout << (r.size() == 0) << "\n"; // #1
  std::cout << r.empty() << "\n";       // #2, calls r.begin() == r.end()
}

Since r models sized_range, #1 will invoke slide_view::size, which mainly invokes ranges::distance; However, #2 invokes view_interface::empty and evaluates r.begin() == r.end(), which constructs the iterator, invokes ranges::next, and caches the result, which is unnecessary.

Also consider:

#include <iostream>
#include <ranges>

int main() {
  auto i = std::views::istream<int>(std::cin);
  auto r = std::views::counted(i.begin(), 4)
         | std::views::chunk(2);
  std::cout << (r.size() == 0) << "\n"; // #1
  std::cout << !r << "\n";              // #2, equivalent to r.size() == 0
  std::cout << r.empty() << "\n";       // #3, ill-formed
}

Since r is still sized_range, #1 will invoke chunk_view::size. #2 is also well-formed since view_interface::operator bool only requires the expression ranges::empty(r) to be well-formed, which first determines the validity of r.empty(), and ends up evaluating #1; However, #3 is ill-formed since r is not a forward_range.

Although we can still use ranges::empty to determine whether r is empty, this inconsistency of the validity of !r and r.empty() is quite unsatisfactory.

I see no reason to prevent view_interface::empty when D is sized_range, since checking whether ranges::size(r) == 0 is an intuitive way to check for empty, as ranges::empty does.

[2022-06-21; Reflector poll]

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

[2022-07-15; LWG telecon: move to Ready]

[2022-07-25 Approved at July 2022 virtual plenary. Status changed: Ready → WP.]

Proposed resolution:

This wording is relative to N4910.

1. Modify 26.5.3.1 [view.interface.general] as indicated:

   namespace std::ranges {
     template<class D>
       requires is_class_v<D> && same_as<D, remove_cv_t<D>>
     class view_interface {
     private:
       constexpr D& derived() noexcept {                  // exposition only
         return static_cast<D&>(*this);
       }
       constexpr const D& derived() const noexcept {      // exposition only
         return static_cast<const D&>(*this);
       }
   
     public:
       constexpr bool empty() requires sized_range<D> || forward_range<D> {
         if constexpr (sized_range<D>)
           return ranges::size(derived()) == 0;
         else
           return ranges::begin(derived()) == ranges::end(derived());
       }
       constexpr bool empty() const requires sized_range<const D> || forward_range<const D> {
         if constexpr (sized_range<const D>)
           return ranges::size(derived()) == 0;
         else
           return ranges::begin(derived()) == ranges::end(derived());
       }
       […]
     };
   }