Standard library header <compare> (C++20)

 

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Standard library headers

Language support <cfloat> <climits> <compare> (C++20) <contracts> (C++26) <coroutine> (C++20) <csetjmp> <csignal> <cstdarg> <cstddef> <cstdint> (C++11) <cstdlib> <exception> <initializer_list> (C++11)   <limits> <new> <source_location> (C++20) <stdfloat> (C++23) <typeinfo> <version> (C++20) Concepts <concepts> (C++20) Diagnostics <cassert> <cerrno> <debugging> (C++26) <stacktrace> (C++23) <stdexcept> <system_error> (C++11) Memory management <memory> <memory_resource> (C++17) <scoped_allocator> (C++11) Metaprogramming <meta> (C++26) <ratio> (C++11) <type_traits> (C++11)

General utilities <any> (C++17) <bitset> <bit> (C++20) <charconv> (C++17) <expected> (C++23) <format> (C++20) <functional> <optional> (C++17) <stdbit.h> (C++26) <tuple> (C++11) <typeindex> (C++11) <utility> <variant> (C++17) Containers <array> (C++11) <deque> <flat_map> (C++23) <flat_set> (C++23) <forward_list> (C++11) <hive> (C++26) <inplace_vector> (C++26)   <list> <map> <mdspan> (C++23) <queue> <set> <span> (C++20) <stack> <unordered_map> (C++11) <unordered_set> (C++11) <vector> Iterators <iterator> Ranges <generator> (C++23) <ranges> (C++20)

Algorithms <algorithm> <numeric> Strings <cctype> <cstring> <cuchar> (C++11) <cwchar> <cwctype> <string_view> (C++17) <string> Text processing <clocale> <codecvt> (C++11/17/26*) <locale> <regex> (C++11) <text_encoding> (C++26)   Numerics <cfenv> (C++11) <cmath> <complex> <linalg> (C++26) <numbers> (C++20) <random> (C++11) <simd> (C++26) <stdckdint.h> (C++26) <valarray> Time <chrono> (C++11) <ctime> C compatibility <ccomplex> (C++11/17/20*) <ciso646> (until C++20) <cstdalign> (C++11/17/20*) <cstdbool> (C++11/17/20*) <ctgmath> (C++11/17/20*)

Input/output <cinttypes> (C++11) <cstdio> <filesystem> (C++17) <fstream> <iomanip> <iosfwd> <iostream> <ios> <istream> <ostream> <print> (C++23) <spanstream> (C++23) <sstream> <streambuf> <strstream> (C++98/26*) <syncstream> (C++20) Concurrency support <atomic> (C++11) <barrier> (C++20) <condition_variable> (C++11) <future> (C++11) <hazard_pointer> (C++26) <latch> (C++20) <mutex> (C++11) <rcu> (C++26) <semaphore> (C++20) <shared_mutex> (C++14) <stdatomic.h> (C++23) <stop_token> (C++20) <thread> (C++11) Execution support <execution> (C++17)

 

This header is part of the language support library.

Concepts
three_way_comparablethree_way_comparable_with (C++20)	specifies that operator <=> produces consistent result on given types (concept)
Classes
partial_ordering (C++20)	the result type of 3-way comparison that supports all 6 operators, is not substitutable, and allows incomparable values (class)
weak_ordering (C++20)	the result type of 3-way comparison that supports all 6 operators and is not substitutable (class)
strong_ordering (C++20)	the result type of 3-way comparison that supports all 6 operators and is substitutable (class)
common_comparison_category (C++20)	the strongest comparison category to which all of the given types can be converted (class template)
compare_three_way_result (C++20)	obtains the result type of the three-way comparison operator <=> on given types (class template)
compare_three_way (C++20)	constrained function object implementing x <=> y (class)
Customization point objects
strong_order (C++20)	performs 3-way comparison and produces a result of type std::strong_ordering (customization point object)
weak_order (C++20)	performs 3-way comparison and produces a result of type std::weak_ordering (customization point object)
partial_order (C++20)	performs 3-way comparison and produces a result of type std::partial_ordering (customization point object)
compare_strong_order_fallback (C++20)	performs 3-way comparison and produces a result of type std::strong_ordering, even if operator<=> is unavailable (customization point object)
compare_weak_order_fallback (C++20)	performs 3-way comparison and produces a result of type std::weak_ordering, even if operator<=> is unavailable (customization point object)
compare_partial_order_fallback (C++20)	performs 3-way comparison and produces a result of type std::partial_ordering, even if operator<=> is unavailable (customization point object)
Functions
is_eqis_neqis_ltis_lteqis_gtis_gteq (C++20)	named comparison functions (function)

Synopsis

// all freestanding
namespace std {
  // comparison category types
  class partial_ordering;
  class weak_ordering;
  class strong_ordering;

  // named comparison functions
  constexpr bool is_eq(partial_ordering cmp) noexcept { return cmp == 0; }
  constexpr bool is_neq(partial_ordering cmp) noexcept { return cmp != 0; }
  constexpr bool is_lt(partial_ordering cmp) noexcept { return cmp < 0; }
  constexpr bool is_lteq(partial_ordering cmp) noexcept { return cmp <= 0; }
  constexpr bool is_gt(partial_ordering cmp) noexcept { return cmp > 0; }
  constexpr bool is_gteq(partial_ordering cmp) noexcept { return cmp >= 0; }

  // common comparison category type
  template<class... Ts> struct common_comparison_category
  {
    using type = /* see description */;
  };
  template<class... Ts>
  using common_comparison_category_t = common_comparison_category<Ts...>::type;

  // concept three_way_comparable
  template<class T, class Cat = partial_ordering>
  concept three_way_comparable = /* see description */;
  template<class T, class U, class Cat = partial_ordering>
  concept three_way_comparable_with = /* see description */;

  // result of three-way comparison
  template<class T, class U = T> struct compare_three_way_result;

  template<class T, class U = T>
  using compare_three_way_result_t = compare_three_way_result<T, U>::type;

  // class compare_three_way
  struct compare_three_way;

  // comparison algorithms
  inline namespace /* unspecified */ {
    inline constexpr /* unspecified */ strong_order = /* unspecified */;
    inline constexpr /* unspecified */ weak_order = /* unspecified */;
    inline constexpr /* unspecified */ partial_order = /* unspecified */;
    inline constexpr /* unspecified */ compare_strong_order_fallback = /* unspecified */;
    inline constexpr /* unspecified */ compare_weak_order_fallback = /* unspecified */;
    inline constexpr /* unspecified */ compare_partial_order_fallback = /* unspecified */;
  }

  // type ordering
  template<class T, class U> struct type_order;

  template<class T, class U>
  constexpr strong_ordering type_order_v = type_order<T, U>::value;
}

Concept three_way_comparable

namespace std {
template<class T, class Cat>
concept /*compares-as*/ =            // exposition-only
  same_as<common_comparison_category_t<T, Cat>, Cat>;

template<class T, class U>
concept /*partially-ordered-with*/ = // exposition-only
  requires(const remove_reference_t<T>& t, const remove_reference_t<U>& u) {
    { t < u  } -> /*boolean-testable*/;
    { t > u  } -> /*boolean-testable*/;
    { t <= u } -> /*boolean-testable*/;
    { t >= u } -> /*boolean-testable*/;
    { u < t  } -> /*boolean-testable*/;
    { u > t  } -> /*boolean-testable*/;
    { u <= t } -> /*boolean-testable*/;
    { u >= t } -> /*boolean-testable*/;
  };

template<class T, class Cat = partial_ordering>
concept three_way_comparable =
  /*weakly-equality-comparable-with*/<T, T> && /*partially-ordered-with*/<T, T> &&
  requires(const remove_reference_t<T>& a, const remove_reference_t<T>& b) {
    { a <=> b } -> /*compares-as*/<Cat>;
  };
}

Concept three_way_comparable_with

namespace std {
template<class T, class U, class Cat = partial_ordering>
concept three_way_comparable_with =
  three_way_comparable<T, Cat> && three_way_comparable<U, Cat> &&
  /*comparison-common-type-with*/<T, U> &&
  three_way_comparable<
    common_reference_t<const remove_reference_t<T>&, const remove_reference_t<U>&>,
    Cat> &&
  /*weakly-equality-comparable-with*/<T, U> && /*partially-ordered-with*/<T, U> &&
  requires(const remove_reference_t<T>& t, const remove_reference_t<U>& u) {
    { t <=> u } -> /*compares-as*/<Cat>;
    { u <=> t } -> /*compares-as*/<Cat>;
  };
}

Class std::partial_ordering

namespace std {
  class partial_ordering
  {
    int /*value*/;       // exposition-only
    bool /*is-ordered*/; // exposition-only

    // exposition-only constructors
    constexpr explicit partial_ordering(/*ord*/ v) noexcept
      : /*value*/(int(v))
      , /*is-ordered*/(true)
    {
    } // exposition-only
    constexpr explicit partial_ordering(/*ncmp*/ v) noexcept
      : /*value*/(int(v))
      , /*is-ordered*/(false)
    {
    } // exposition-only

  public:
    // valid values
    static const partial_ordering less;
    static const partial_ordering equivalent;
    static const partial_ordering greater;
    static const partial_ordering unordered;

    // comparisons
    friend constexpr bool operator==(partial_ordering v, /* unspecified */) noexcept;
    friend constexpr bool operator==(partial_ordering v,
                                     partial_ordering w) noexcept = default;
    friend constexpr bool operator<(partial_ordering v, /* unspecified */) noexcept;
    friend constexpr bool operator>(partial_ordering v, /* unspecified */) noexcept;
    friend constexpr bool operator<=(partial_ordering v, /* unspecified */) noexcept;
    friend constexpr bool operator>=(partial_ordering v, /* unspecified */) noexcept;
    friend constexpr bool operator<(/* unspecified */, partial_ordering v) noexcept;
    friend constexpr bool operator>(/* unspecified */, partial_ordering v) noexcept;
    friend constexpr bool operator<=(/* unspecified */, partial_ordering v) noexcept;
    friend constexpr bool operator>=(/* unspecified */, partial_ordering v) noexcept;
    friend constexpr partial_ordering operator<=>(partial_ordering v,
                                                  /* unspecified */) noexcept;
    friend constexpr partial_ordering operator<=>(/* unspecified */,
                                                  partial_ordering v) noexcept;
  };

  // valid values' definitions
  inline constexpr partial_ordering partial_ordering::less(/*ord*/::/*less*/);
  inline constexpr partial_ordering partial_ordering::equivalent(/*ord*/::/*equivalent*/);
  inline constexpr partial_ordering partial_ordering::greater(/*ord*/::/*greater*/);
  inline constexpr partial_ordering partial_ordering::unordered(/*ncmp*/::/*unordered*/);
}

Class std::weak_ordering

namespace std {
  class weak_ordering
  {
    int /*value*/; // exposition-only

    // exposition-only constructors
    constexpr explicit weak_ordering(/*ord*/ v) noexcept
      : /*value*/(int(v))
    {
    } // exposition-only

  public:
    // valid values
    static const weak_ordering less;
    static const weak_ordering equivalent;
    static const weak_ordering greater;

    // conversions
    constexpr operator partial_ordering() const noexcept;

    // comparisons
    friend constexpr bool operator==(weak_ordering v, /* unspecified */) noexcept;
    friend constexpr bool operator==(weak_ordering v, weak_ordering w) noexcept = default;
    friend constexpr bool operator<(weak_ordering v, /* unspecified */) noexcept;
    friend constexpr bool operator>(weak_ordering v, /* unspecified */) noexcept;
    friend constexpr bool operator<=(weak_ordering v, /* unspecified */) noexcept;
    friend constexpr bool operator>=(weak_ordering v, /* unspecified */) noexcept;
    friend constexpr bool operator<(/* unspecified */, weak_ordering v) noexcept;
    friend constexpr bool operator>(/* unspecified */, weak_ordering v) noexcept;
    friend constexpr bool operator<=(/* unspecified */, weak_ordering v) noexcept;
    friend constexpr bool operator>=(/* unspecified */, weak_ordering v) noexcept;
    friend constexpr weak_ordering operator<=>(weak_ordering v,
                                               /* unspecified */) noexcept;
    friend constexpr weak_ordering operator<=>(/* unspecified */,
                                               weak_ordering v) noexcept;
  };

  // valid values' definitions
  inline constexpr weak_ordering weak_ordering::less(/*ord*/::/*less*/);
  inline constexpr weak_ordering weak_ordering::equivalent(/*ord*/::/*equivalent*/);
  inline constexpr weak_ordering weak_ordering::greater(/*ord*/::/*greater*/);
}

Class std::strong_ordering

namespace std {
  class strong_ordering
  {
    int /*value*/; // exposition-only

    // exposition-only constructors
    constexpr explicit strong_ordering(/*ord*/ v) noexcept
      : /*value*/(int(v))
    {
    } // exposition-only

  public:
    // valid values
    static const strong_ordering less;
    static const strong_ordering equal;
    static const strong_ordering equivalent;
    static const strong_ordering greater;

    // conversions
    constexpr operator partial_ordering() const noexcept;
    constexpr operator weak_ordering() const noexcept;

    // comparisons
    friend constexpr bool operator==(strong_ordering v, /* unspecified */) noexcept;
    friend constexpr bool operator==(strong_ordering v,
                                     strong_ordering w) noexcept = default;
    friend constexpr bool operator<(strong_ordering v, /* unspecified */) noexcept;
    friend constexpr bool operator>(strong_ordering v, /* unspecified */) noexcept;
    friend constexpr bool operator<=(strong_ordering v, /* unspecified */) noexcept;
    friend constexpr bool operator>=(strong_ordering v, /* unspecified */) noexcept;
    friend constexpr bool operator<(/* unspecified */, strong_ordering v) noexcept;
    friend constexpr bool operator>(/* unspecified */, strong_ordering v) noexcept;
    friend constexpr bool operator<=(/* unspecified */, strong_ordering v) noexcept;
    friend constexpr bool operator>=(/* unspecified */, strong_ordering v) noexcept;
    friend constexpr strong_ordering operator<=>(strong_ordering v,
                                                 /* unspecified */) noexcept;
    friend constexpr strong_ordering operator<=>(/* unspecified */,
                                                 strong_ordering v) noexcept;
  };

  // valid values' definitions
  inline constexpr strong_ordering strong_ordering::less(/*ord*/::/*less*/);
  inline constexpr strong_ordering strong_ordering::equal(/*ord*/::/*equal*/);
  inline constexpr strong_ordering strong_ordering::equivalent(/*ord*/::/*equivalent*/);
  inline constexpr strong_ordering strong_ordering::greater(/*ord*/::/*greater*/);
}

Class std::compare_three_way

namespace std {
  struct compare_three_way {
    template<class T, class U>
    constexpr auto operator()(T&& t, U&& u) const;

    using is_transparent = /* unspecified */;
  };
}

Class std::type_order

namespace std {
  template<class T, class U> struct type_order {
    static constexpr strong_ordering value = /*TYPE-ORDER*/(T, U);
    
    using value_type = strong_ordering;
    
    constexpr operator value_type() const noexcept { return value; }
    constexpr value_type operator()() const noexcept { return value; }
  };
}

See also

three-way comparison operator expression lhs <=> rhs (C++20)