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

 

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Standard library headers

Language support
<cstddef> <cstdlib> <version> (C++20) <limits> <climits>	<cfloat> <cstdint> (C++11) <stdfloat> (C++23) <new> <typeinfo>	<source_location> (C++20) <exception> <initializer_list> (C++11) <compare> (C++20)	<coroutine> (C++20) <csignal> <csetjmp> <cstdarg>
Concepts
<concepts> (C++20)
Diagnostics
<stdexcept> <stacktrace> (C++23)	<cassert>	<cerrno>	<system_error> (C++11)
Memory management
<memory>	<memory_resource> (C++17)	<scoped_allocator> (C++11)
Metaprogramming
<type_traits> (C++11)	<ratio> (C++11)
General utilities
<utility> <tuple> (C++11) <optional> (C++17) <variant> (C++17)	<any> (C++17) <expected> (C++23) <bitset>	<functional> <typeindex> (C++11) <execution> (C++17)	<charconv> (C++17) <format> (C++20) <bit> (C++20)
Strings
<string_view> (C++17) <string>	<cctype> <cwctype>	<cstring> <cwchar>	<cuchar> (C++11)
Containers
<array> (C++11) <deque> <forward_list> (C++11) <list>	<vector> <map> <set> <unordered_map> (C++11)	<unordered_set> (C++11) <queue> <stack> <flat_map> (C++23)	<flat_set> (C++23) <span> (C++20) <mdspan> (C++23)
Iterators
<iterator>
Ranges
<ranges> (C++20)	<generator> (C++23)
Algorithms
<algorithm>	<numeric>
Numerics
<cfenv> (C++11) <complex>	<random> (C++11) <valarray>	<cmath>	<numbers> (C++20)
Time
<chrono> (C++11)	<ctime>
Localization
<locale>	<clocale>	<codecvt> (C++11/17*)
Input/output
<iosfwd> <iostream> <ios> <streambuf>	<istream> <ostream> <iomanip> <print> (C++23)	<sstream> <spanstream> (C++23) <fstream> <syncstream> (C++20)	<filesystem> (C++17) <cstdio> <cinttypes> (C++11) <strstream> (C++98*)
Regular expressions
<regex> (C++11)
Concurrency support
<stop_token> (C++20) <thread> (C++11) <atomic> (C++11)	<stdatomic.h> (C++23) <mutex> (C++11) <shared_mutex> (C++14)	<condition_variable> (C++11)   <semaphore> (C++20) <latch> (C++20)	<barrier> (C++20) <future> (C++11)
C compatibility
<cstdbool> (C++11/17/20*)   <ccomplex> (C++11/17/20*)	<ctgmath> (C++11/17/20*)	<cstdalign> (C++11/17/20*)	<ciso646> (until C++20)

 

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)	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

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 = typename 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 = typename 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 */;
  }
}

Concept three_way_comparable

namespace std {
  template<class T, class Cat>
    concept __ComparesAs =                // exposition only
      same_as<common_comparison_category_t<T, Cat>, Cat>;
 
  template<class T, class U>
    concept __PartiallyOrderedWith =      // 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 =
      __WeaklyEqualityComparableWith<T, T> &&
      __PartiallyOrderedWith<T, T> &&
      requires(const remove_reference_t<T>& a, const remove_reference_t<T>& b) {
        { a <=> b } -> __ComparesAs<Cat>;
      };
}

Concept three_way_comparable_with

namespace std {
  template<class T, class U, class Cat = partial_ordering>
    concept three_way_comparable_with =
      __WeaklyEqualityComparableWith<T, U> &&
      __PartiallyOrderedWith<T, U> &&
      three_way_comparable<T, Cat> &&
      three_way_comparable<U, Cat> &&
      common_reference_with<const remove_reference_t<T>&, const remove_reference_t<U>&> &&
      three_way_comparable<
        common_reference_t<
          const remove_reference_t<T>&, const remove_reference_t<U>&>, Cat> &&
      requires(const remove_reference_t<T>& t, const remove_reference_t<U>& u) {
        { t <=> u } -> __ComparesAs<Cat>;
        { u <=> t } -> __ComparesAs<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(eq v) noexcept :
        value(int(v)), is_ordered(true) {}      // exposition only
    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(eq::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(eq v) noexcept : value(int(v)) {}  // exposition only
    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(eq::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(eq v) noexcept :
      value(int(v)) {}    // exposition only
    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(eq::equal);
  inline constexpr strong_ordering strong_ordering::equivalent(eq::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 */;
  };
}

See also

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