16 Library introduction [library]

16.4 Method of description [description]

16.4.1 Structure of each clause [structure]

16.4.1.3 Requirements [structure.requirements]

Requirements describe constraints that shall be met by a C++ program that extends the standard library.
Such extensions are generally one of the following:
  • Template arguments
  • Derived classes
  • Containers, iterators, and algorithms that meet an interface convention or model a concept
The string and iostream components use an explicit representation of operations required of template arguments.
They use a class template char_­traits to define these constraints.
Interface convention requirements are stated as generally as possible.
Instead of stating “class X has to define a member function operator++()”, the interface requires “for any object x of class X, ++x is defined”.
That is, whether the operator is a member is unspecified.
Requirements are stated in terms of well-defined expressions that define valid terms of the types that meet the requirements.
For every set of well-defined expression requirements there is either a named concept or a table that specifies an initial set of the valid expressions and their semantics.
Any generic algorithm ([algorithms]) that uses the well-defined expression requirements is described in terms of the valid expressions for its template type parameters.
The library specification uses a typographical convention for naming requirements.
Names in italic type that begin with the prefix Cpp17 refer to sets of well-defined expression requirements typically presented in tabular form, possibly with additional prose semantic requirements.
For example, Cpp17Destructible (Table 32) is such a named requirement.
Names in constant width type refer to library concepts which are presented as a concept definition ([temp]), possibly with additional prose semantic requirements.
For example, destructible ([concept.destructible]) is such a named requirement.
Template argument requirements are sometimes referenced by name.
In some cases the semantic requirements are presented as C++ code.
Such code is intended as a specification of equivalence of a construct to another construct, not necessarily as the way the construct must be implemented.152
Required operations of any concept defined in this document need not be total functions; that is, some arguments to a required operation may result in the required semantics failing to be met.
[Example
:
The required < operator of the totally_­ordered concept ([concept.totallyordered]) does not meet the semantic requirements of that concept when operating on NaNs.
— end example
]
This does not affect whether a type models the concept.
A declaration may explicitly impose requirements through its associated constraints ([temp.constr.decl]).
When the associated constraints refer to a concept ([temp.concept]), the semantic constraints specified for that concept are additionally imposed on the use of the declaration.
Although in some cases the code given is unambiguously the optimum implementation.