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std::ranges::ref_view

Defined in header <ranges>
template<ranges::range R>
    requires std::is_object_v<R>
class ref_view : public ranges::view_interface<ref_view<R>>
(since C++20)

ref_view is a view of the elements of some other range. It wraps a reference to that range.

Data members

ref_view behaves as if it only stores a R* member subobject pointing to the referenced range. The member is shown as r_ here (the name is exposition-only).

Member functions

(constructor)
(C++20)
constructs a ref_view that references to the given range
(public member function)
base
(C++20)
returns the references to the referenced range
(public member function)
begin
(C++20)
returns the beginning iterator of the referenced range
(public member function)
end
(C++20)
returns the sentinel of the referenced range
(public member function)
empty
(C++20)
checks whether the referenced range is empty
(public member function)
size
(C++20)
returns the size of the referenced sized_range
(public member function)
data
(C++20)
returns the pointer to the beginning of the referenced contiguous_range
(public member function)
Inherited from std::ranges::view_interface
(C++20)
Returns whether the derived view is not empty. Provided if ranges::empty is applicable to it.
(public member function of std::ranges::view_interface<D>)
(C++20)
Returns the first element in the derived view. Provided if it satisfies forward_range.
(public member function of std::ranges::view_interface<D>)
(C++20)
Returns the last element in the derived view. Provided if it satisfies bidirectional_range and common_range.
(public member function of std::ranges::view_interface<D>)
(C++20)
Returns the nth element in the derived view. Provided if it satisfies random_access_range.
(public member function of std::ranges::view_interface<D>)

std::ranges::ref_view::ref_view

template</*different-from*/<ref_view> T>
    requires std::convertible_to<T, R&> && requires { _FUN(std::declval<T>()); }
constexpr ref_view(T&& t);
(since C++20)

Initializes r_ with std::addressof(static_cast<R&>(std::forward<T>(t))).

/*different-from*/<T, U> is satisfied if and only if std::remove_cvref_t<T> and std::remove_cvref_t<U> are not the same type, and overloads of _FUN are declared as void _FUN(R&); void _FUN(R&&) = delete;.

Parameters

t - range to reference

std::ranges::ref_view::base

constexpr R& base() const;
(since C++20)

Equivalent to return *r_;

std::ranges::ref_view::begin

constexpr ranges::iterator_t<R> begin() const;
(since C++20)

Equivalent to return ranges::begin(*r_);

std::ranges::ref_view::end

constexpr ranges::sentinel_t<R> end() const;
(since C++20)

Equivalent to return ranges::end(*r_);

std::ranges::ref_view::empty

constexpr bool empty() const
    requires requires { ranges::empty(*r_); };
(since C++20)

Equivalent to return ranges::empty(*r_);

std::ranges::ref_view::size

constexpr auto size() const
    requires ranges::sized_range<R>
{ return ranges::size(*r_); }
(since C++20)

std::ranges::ref_view::data

constexpr auto data() const
    requires ranges::contiguous_range<R>
{ return ranges::data(*r_); }
(since C++20)

Deduction guides

template<class R>
ref_view(R&) -> ref_view<R>;
(since C++20)

Helper templates

template<class T>
inline constexpr bool enable_borrowed_range<ranges::ref_view<T>> = true;
(since C++20)

This specialization of std::ranges::enable_borrowed_range makes ref_view satisfy borrowed_range.

Example

#include <ranges>
#include <iostream>
 
int main()
{
    const std::string s{"cosmos"};
 
    const std::ranges::take_view tv{s, 3};
    const std::ranges::ref_view rv{tv};
 
    std::cout
        << std::boolalpha
        << "call empty() : " << rv.empty() << '\n'
        << "call size()  : " << rv.size() << '\n'
        << "call begin() : " << *rv.begin() << '\n'
        << "call end()   : " << *(rv.end()-1) << '\n'
        << "call data()  : " << rv.data() << '\n'
        << "call base()  : " << rv.base().size() << '\n' // ~> tv.size()
        << "range-for    : ";
 
    for (const auto c: rv) { std::cout << c; }
    std::cout << '\n';
}

Output:

call empty() : false
call size()  : 3
call begin() : c
call end()   : s
call data()  : cosmos
call base()  : 3
range-for    : cos

Defect reports

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

DR Applied to Behavior as published Correct behavior
P2325R3 C++20 default constructor was provided as view
must be default_initializable
removed along with the requirement

See also

(C++11)
CopyConstructible and CopyAssignable reference wrapper
(class template)
(C++20)
a view with unique ownership of some range
(class template)
(C++20)
a view that includes all elements of a range
(alias template) (range adaptor object)

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