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### 84. Ambiguity with string::insert()

Section: 21.3.3.6 [string.access] Status: NAD Submitter: Nico Josuttis Opened: 1998-09-29 Last modified: 2016-01-28

Priority: Not Prioritized

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Discussion:

If I try

        s.insert(0,1,' ');

I get an nasty ambiguity. It might be

        s.insert((size_type)0,(size_type)1,(charT)' ');

which inserts 1 space character at position 0, or

        s.insert((char*)0,(size_type)1,(charT)' ')

which inserts 1 space character at iterator/address 0 (bingo!), or

        s.insert((char*)0, (InputIterator)1, (InputIterator)' ')

which normally inserts characters from iterator 1 to iterator ' '. But according to 23.1.1.9 (the "do the right thing" fix) it is equivalent to the second. However, it is still ambiguous, because of course I mean the first!

Rationale:

Not a defect. The LWG believes this is a "genetic misfortune" inherent in the design of string and thus not a defect in the Standard as such .