Add std::views::indices(n)

• Add std::views::indices(n)
  • Revision History
  • Abstract
  • Motivation
  • Implementation and Usage
  • Prior Art
  • Technical Decisions
  • Wording
  • References

Revision History

Since R0

• Move upto from the std::ranges namespace into std::views
• Use a more convincing example
• Incorporate with the current iota wording in the standard

Since R1

• Change the name views::upto to views::indices.
• Use the is-integer-like exposition-only constraint rather than the std::integral (is-integer-like allows implementation-defined types and removes bool).

Abstract

We propose adding std::views::indices(n) to the C++ Standard Library as a range adaptor that generates a sequence of integers from 0 to n-1.

Motivation

Currently, iota(0, ranges::size(rng)) does not compile due to mismatched types (see point 1 in Background section). Then, users need to write a workaround like iota(range_size_t<decltype(rng)>{}, ranges::size(rng)), which is not straightforward and cumbersome. An example illustrating this issue is available at  x8nWxqE9vCompiler Explorer:

std::vector rng(5, 0);
// auto res1 = views::iota(0, ranges::size(rng)); // does not compile
auto res2 = iota(range_size_t<decltype(rng)>{}, ranges::size(rng));
std::print("{}", res2); // [0, 1, 2, 3, 4]

std::vector rng(5, 0);
std::print("{}", views::indices(ranges::size(rng))); // [0, 1, 2, 3, 4]

std::views::indices(n) eases this pattern by providing a straightforward method to generate integer sequences, improving readability and killing arcane code.

Implementation and Usage

namespace std::views {
    inline constexpr auto indices = [] </*is-integer-like*/ I> (I n) {
        return std::views::iota(I{}, n);
    };
}

Usage:

int main() {
    std::vector rng(5, 0);
    std::print("{}", views::indices(ranges::size(rng))); // [0, 1, 2, 3, 4]
}

Implementation:  hsP97jKzvCompiler Explorer

Prior Art

Two preceding proposals have provided fundation for std::views::indices(n):

1. P2214R2: A Plan for C++26 Ranges^[1] highlights the issue with views::iota(0, r.size()) not compiling due to mismatched types. std::ranges::views::iota requires both arguments to be of the same type, or at least commonly comparable. This becomes problematic when comparing int (often 32-bit) with std::size_t (often 64-bit), which is usually wider on 64-bit systems. The same example from above Motivation section can be viewed at  x8nWxqE9vCompiler Explorer.

   ​​​​std::vector rng(5, 0);
   ​​​​auto res1 = iota(0, ranges::size(rng)); // does not compile
   

2. P1894R0: Proposal of std::upto, std::indices and std::enumerate^[2] proposed an implementation (see below) that our proposal refines. Our approach offers a more consistent interface, fitting seamlessly with existing standard library.

   ​​​​// std::upto implementation example
   ​​​​// P1894R0: Proposal of std::upto, std::indices and std::enumerate
   ​​​​namespace std {
   ​​​​    template<typename Int>
   ​​​​    constexpr auto upto(Int&& i) noexcept {
   ​​​​        return std::ranges::iota_view{Int(),std::forward<Int>(i)};
   ​​​​    }
   ​​​​}
   

Technical Decisions

1. Limiting to is-integer-like: is-integer-like allows implementation-defined types and removes bool.

2. Lambda-based Approach: Using a lambda is consistent with the established range adaptor patterns. Moreover, the use of constexpr allows for the evaluation to occur at compile-time.

3. Leveraging Existing iota_view Instead of Creating a New indices_view: Introducing indices_view would mean adding a component similar to what already exists, causing confusion and maintainability issues for users. By leveraging iota_view, we simplify the implementation and reuse of what the current C++ Standard Library offers. Additionally, any future optimizations to iota_view will automatically benefit std::views::indices. Therefore, by extending iota_view, std::views::indices becomes more maintainable, efficient, and simple.

Wording

Add a new parapgrah under [range.iota.overview]:

26.6.4.1 Overview [range.iota.overview]

The name views::indices denotes a customization point object ([customization.point.object]). Let E be an expression and let T be remove_cvref_t<decltype((E))>. If T does not model is-integer-like, views::indices(E) is ill-formed. Otherwise, the expression views::indices(E) is expression-equivalent to views::iota(T(), E).

References