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c++iteratorstdlist

When the first element is added to a std::list, is an iterator obtained from begin() invalidated?


Does the following give defined results in terms of the C++ standard?

std::list<int> myList;
std::list<int>::iterator myIter = myList.begin();    // any issues?
myList.push_back( 123 );
myIter++;                                  // will myIter point to the 123 I pushed?

I can test this out on the compiler I'm using... but I'd like a more definitive answer.

This is a different question from this one about empty vectors because it involves asking about the state of iterators AFTER the container ceases to be empty().


Solution

  • All standard iterator and container types behave the same in this regard:

    §23.2.1 [container.requirements.general] p6

    begin() returns an iterator referring to the first element in the container. end() returns an iterator which is the past-the-end value for the container. If the container is empty, then begin() == end();

    And table 107 in §24.2.3 [input.iterators] demands that as a precondition for ++it, it shall be dereferenceable, which is not the case for past-the-end iterators (i.e., what you get from end()), as such you're treading into the dreaded domain of undefined behaviour.