std::optional<T>::begin

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< cpp‎ | utility‎ | optional
 
 
Utilities library
General utilities
Relational operators (deprecated in C++20)
 
 
constexpr iterator begin() noexcept;
(since C++26)
constexpr const_iterator begin() const noexcept;
(since C++26)

If *this contains a value, returns an iterator to the contained value. Otherwise, a past-the-end iterator value.

range-begin-end.svg

Parameters

(none)

Return value

Iterator to the contained value if has_value() is true. Otherwise, a past-the-end iterator.

Complexity

Constant.

Notes

Feature-test macro Value Std Feature
__cpp_lib_optional_range_support 202406L (C++26) Range support for std::optional

Example

#include <optional>
#include <print>
#include <vector>
 
int main()
{
    constexpr std::optional<int> none = std::nullopt;
    constexpr std::optional<int> some = 42;
 
    static_assert(none.begin() == none.end());
    static_assert(some.begin() != some.end());
 
    // ranged-for loop support
    for (int i : none)
        std::println("'none' has a value of {}", i);
 
    for (int i : some)
        std::println("'some' has a value of {}", i);
 
    std::optional<std::vector<int>> many({0, 1, 2});
    for (const auto& v : many)
        std::println("'many' has a value of {}", v);
}

Output:

'some' has a value of 42
'many' has a value of [0, 1, 2]

See also

(C++26)
returns an iterator to the end
(public member function)