c++ - Does moving a vector invalidate iterators?

Question

If I have an iterator into vector a, then I move-construct or move-assign vector b from a, does that iterator still point to the same element (now in vector b)? Here's what I mean in code:

#include <vector>
#include <iostream>

int main(int argc, char *argv[])
{
    std::vector<int>::iterator a_iter;
    std::vector<int> b;
    {
        std::vector<int> a{1, 2, 3, 4, 5};
        a_iter = a.begin() + 2;
        b = std::move(a);
    }
    std::cout << *a_iter << std::endl; // Is a_iter valid here?
    return 0;
}

Is a_iter still valid since a has been moved into b, or is the iterator invalidated by the move? For reference, std::vector::swap does not invalidate iterators.

Answer 1

While it might be reasonable to assume that iterators are still valid after a move, I don't think the Standard actually guarantees this. Therefore, the iterators are in an undefined state after the move.

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There is no reference I can find in the Standard which specifically states that iterators that existed before a move are still valid after the move.

On the surface, it would seem to be perfectly reasonable to assume that an iterator is typically implemented as pointers in to the controlled sequence. If that's the case, then the iterators would still be valid after the move.

But the implementation of an iterator is implementation-defined. Meaning, so long as the iterator on a particular platform meets the requirements set forth by the Standard, it can be implemented in any way whatsoever. It could, in theory, be implemented as a combination of a pointer back to the vector class along with an index. If that's the case, then the iterators would become invalid after the move.

Whether or not an iterator is actually implemented this way is irrelevant. It could be implemented this way, so without a specific guarantee from the Standard that post-move iterators are still valid, you cannot assume that they are. Bear in mind also that there is such a guarantee for iterators after a swap. This was specifically clarified from the previous Standard. Perhaps it was simply an oversight of the Std comittee to not make a similar clarification for iterators after a move, but in any case there is no such guarantee.

Therefore, the long and the short of it is you can't assume your iterators are still good after a move.

EDIT:

23.2.1/11 in Draft n3242 states that:

Unless otherwise specified (either explicitly or by defining a function in terms of other functions), invoking a container member function or passing a container as an argument to a library function shall not invalidate iterators to, or change the values of, objects within that container.

This might lead one to conclude that the iterators are valid after a move, but I disagree. In your example code, a_iter was an iterator in to the vector a. After the move, that container, a has certainly been changed. My conclusion is the above clause does not apply in this case.