Section: 26.8.9 [alg.min.max] Status: TC1 Submitter: Nico Josuttis Opened: 2000-02-26 Last modified: 2016-01-28
Priority: Not Prioritized
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Discussion:
The standard doesn't specify what min_element() and max_element() shall return if the range is empty (first equals last). The usual implementations return last. This problem seems also apply to partition(), stable_partition(), next_permutation(), and prev_permutation().
Proposed resolution:
In 26.8.9 [alg.min.max] - Minimum and maximum, paragraphs 7 and 9, append: Returns last if first==last.
Rationale:
The LWG looked in some detail at all of the above mentioned algorithms, but believes that except for min_element() and max_element() it is already clear that last is returned if first == last.