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c++stlsetstdset

For how long the iterator returned by std::set.find() lives?

I need to keep track of std::set element by saving the iterator returned by set.find().

My questions is does insertion and removing other elements invalidates the obtained iterator? From a simple test I did I can see it is not, but I'd like to ensure this feature is by design.

Solution

  • It never invalidates iterators or pointers/references to the elements. Only if you remove the element itself does the iterator or pointer/reference become invalid.

    23.1.2/8:

    The insert members shall not affect the validity of iterators and references to the container, and the erase members shall invalidate only iterators and references to the erased elements.