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### 130. Return type of container::erase(iterator) differs for associative containers

Section: 22.2.6 [associative.reqmts], 22.2.3 [sequence.reqmts] Status: CD1 Submitter: Andrew Koenig Opened: 1999-03-02 Last modified: 2016-01-28

Priority: Not Prioritized

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Duplicate of: 451

Discussion:

Table 67 (23.1.1) says that container::erase(iterator) returns an iterator. Table 69 (23.1.2) says that in addition to this requirement, associative containers also say that container::erase(iterator) returns void. That's not an addition; it's a change to the requirements, which has the effect of making associative containers fail to meet the requirements for containers.

Proposed resolution:

In 22.2.6 [associative.reqmts], in Table 69 Associative container requirements, change the return type of `a.erase(q)` from `void` to `iterator`. Change the assertion/not/pre/post-condition from "erases the element pointed to by `q`" to "erases the element pointed to by `q`. Returns an iterator pointing to the element immediately following q prior to the element being erased. If no such element exists, a.end() is returned."

In 22.2.6 [associative.reqmts], in Table 69 Associative container requirements, change the return type of `a.erase(q1, q2)` from `void` to `iterator`. Change the assertion/not/pre/post-condition from "erases the elements in the range `[q1, q2)`" to "erases the elements in the range `[q1, q2)`. Returns q2."

In 22.4.4 [map], in the `map` class synopsis; and in 22.4.5 [multimap], in the `multimap` class synopsis; and in 22.4.6 [set], in the `set` class synopsis; and in 22.4.7 [multiset], in the `multiset` class synopsis: change the signature of the first `erase` overload to

       iterator erase(iterator position);

and change the signature of the third `erase` overload to

      iterator erase(iterator first, iterator last);

[Pre-Kona: reopened at the request of Howard Hinnant]

[Post-Kona: the LWG agrees the return type should be `iterator`, not `void`. (Alex Stepanov agrees too.) Matt provided wording.]

[ Sydney: the proposed wording went in the right direction, but it wasn't good enough. We want to return an iterator from the range form of erase as well as the single-iterator form. Also, the wording is slightly different from the wording we have for sequences; there's no good reason for having a difference. Matt provided new wording, (reflected above) which we will review at the next meeting. ]

[ Redmond: formally voted into WP. ]