Range-based for loop add-ons inspired by the Python builtins and itertools library. Like itertools and the Python3 builtins, this library uses lazy evaluation wherever possible.

Note: Everthing is inside the iter namespace.

range
enumerate
zip
zip_longest
imap
filter
filterfalse
unique_everseen
unique_justseen
takewhile
dropwhile
cycle
repeat
count
groupby
accumulate
compress
sorted
chain
chain.from_iterable
reversed
slice
sliding_window
chunked

product
combinations
combinations_with_replacement
permutations
powerset

This library is header-only and relies only on the C++ standard library. The only exception is zip_longest which uses boost::optional. #include <cppitertools/itertools.hpp> will include all of the provided tools except for zip_longest which must be included separately. You may also include individual pieces with the relevant header (#include <cppitertools/enumerate.hpp> for example).

Most itertools will work with iterables using InputIterators and not copy or move any underlying elements. The itertools that need ForwardIterators or have additional requirements are noted in this document. However, the cases should be fairly obvious: any time an element needs to appear multiple times (as in combinations or cycle) or be looked at more than once (specifically, sorted). This library takes every effort to rely on as little as possible from the underlying iterables, but if anything noteworthy is needed it is described in this document.

If you find anything not working as you expect, not compiling when you believe it should, a divergence from the python itertools behavior, or any sort of error, please let me know. The preferable means would be to open an issue on github. If you want to talk about an issue that you don't feel would be appropriate as a github issue (or you just don't want to open one), You can email me directly with whatever code you have that describes the problem, I've been pretty responsive in the past. If I believe you are "misusing" the library I'll try to put the blame on myself for being unclear in this document and take the steps to clarify it. So please, contact me with any concerns, I'm open to feedback.

The library functions create and return objects that are properly templated on the iterable they are passed. These exact names of these types or precisely how they are templated is unspecified, you should rely on the functions described in this document. If you plan to use these functions in very simple, straight forward means as in the examples on this page, then you will be fine. If you feel like you need to open the header files, then I've probably under-described something, let me know.

The rules are pretty simple, and the library can be largely used without knowledge of them. Let's take an example

std::vector<int> vec{2,4,6,8};
for (auto&& p : enumerate(vec)) { /* ... */ }

In this case, enumerate will return an object that has bound a reference to vec. No copies are produced here, neither of vec nor of the elements it holds.

If an rvalue was passed to enumerate, binding a reference would be unsafe. Consider:

for (auto&& p : enumerate(std::vector<int>{2,4,6,8})) { /* ... */ }

Instead, enumerate will return an object that has the temporary moved into it. That is, the returned object will contain a std::vector<int> rather than just a reference to one. This may seem like a contrived example, but it matters when enumerate is passed the result of a function call like enumerate(f()), or, more obviously, something like enumerate(zip(a, b)). The object returned from zip must be moved into the enumerate object. As a more specific result, itertools can be mixed and nested.

Uses an underlying iterator to achieve the same effect of the python range function. range can be used in three different ways:

Only the stopping point is provided. Prints 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

for (auto i : range(10)) {
    cout << i << '\n';
}

The start and stop are both provided. Prints 10 11 12 13 14

for (auto i : range(10, 15)) {
    cout << i << '\n';
}

The start, stop, and step are all provided. Prints 20 22 24 26 28

for (auto i : range(20, 30, 2)) {
    cout << i << '\n';
}

Negative values are allowed as well. Prints 2 1 0 -1 -2

for (auto i : range(2, -3, -1)) {
    cout << i << '\n';
}

A step size of 0 results in an empty range (Python's raises an exception). The following prints nothing

for (auto i : range(0, 10, 0)) {
    cout << i << '\n';
}

In addition to normal integer range operations, doubles and other numeric types are supported through the template

Prints: 5.0 5.5 6.0 ... 9.5

for(auto i : range(5.0, 10.0, 0.5)) {
    cout << i << '\n';
}

Implementation Note: Typical ranges have their current value incremented by the step size repeatedly (value += step). Floating point range value are recomputed at each step to avoid accumulating floating point inaccuracies (value = start + (step * steps_taken). The result of the latter is a bit slower but more accurate.

Continually "yields" containers similar to pairs. They are basic structs with a .index and a .element. Usage appears as:

vector<int> vec{2, 4, 6, 8};
for (auto&& e : enumerate(vec)) {
    cout << e.index
         << ": "
         << e.element
         << '\n';
}

Called as filter(predicate, iterable). The predicate can be any callable. filter will only yield values that are true under the predicate.

Prints values greater than 4: 5 6 7 8

vector<int> vec{1, 5, 4, 0, 6, 7, 3, 0, 2, 8, 3, 2, 1};
for (auto&& i : filter([] (int i) { return i > 4; }, vec)) {
    cout << i <<'\n';
}

If no predicate is passed, the elements themselves are tested for truth

Prints only non-zero values.

for(auto&& i : filter(vec)) {
    cout << i << '\n';
}

Similar to filter, but only prints values that are false under the predicate.

Prints values not greater than 4: 1 4 3 2 3 2 1

vector<int> vec{1, 5, 4, 0, 6, 7, 3, 0, 2, 8, 3, 2, 1};
for (auto&& i : filterfalse([] (int i) { return i > 4; }, vec)) {
    cout << i <<'\n';
}

If no predicate is passed, the elements themselves are tested for truth.

Prints only zero values.

for(auto&& i : filterfalse(vec)) {
    cout << i << '\n';
}

This is a filter adaptor that only generates values that have never been seen before. For this to work your object must be specialized for std::hash.

Prints 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

vector<int> v {1,2,3,4,3,2,1,5,6,7,7,8,9,8,9,6};
for (auto&& i : unique_everseen(v)) {
    cout << i << ' ';
}

Another filter adaptor that only omits consecutive duplicates.

Prints 1 2 3 4 3 2 1 Example Usage:

vector<int> v {1,1,1,2,2,3,3,3,4,3,2,1,1,1};
for (auto&& i : unique_justseen(v)) {
    cout << i << ' ';
}

Yields elements from an iterable until the first element that is false under the predicate is encountered.

Prints 1 2 3 4. (5 is false under the predicate)

vector<int> ivec{1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1};
for (auto&& i : takewhile([] (int i) {return i < 5;}, ivec)) {
    cout << i << '\n';
}

Yields all elements after and including the first element that is true under the predicate.

Prints 5 6 7 1 2

vector<int> ivec{1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 1, 2};
for (auto&& i : dropwhile([] (int i) {return i < 5;}, ivec)) {
    cout << i << '\n';
}

Additional Requirements: Input must have a ForwardIterator

Repeatedly produces all values of an iterable. The loop will be infinite, so a break or other control flow structure is necessary to exit.

Prints 1 2 3 repeatedly until some_condition is true

vector<int> vec{1, 2, 3};
for (auto&& i : cycle(vec)) {
    cout << i << '\n';
    if (some_condition) {
        break;
    }
}

Repeatedly produces a single argument forever, or a given number of times. repeat will bind a reference when passed an lvalue and move when given an rvalue. It will then yield a reference to the same item until completion.

The below prints 1 five times.

for (auto&& e : repeat(1, 5)) {
    cout << e << '\n';
}

The below prints 2 forever

for (auto&& e : repeat(2)) {
    cout << e << '\n';
}

Effectively a range without a stopping point.
count() with no arguments will start counting from 0 with a positive step of 1.
count(i) will start counting from i with a positive step of 1.
count(i, st) will start counting from i with a step of st.

Technical limitations: Unlike Python which can use its long integer types when needed, count() will eventually exceed the maximum possible value for its type (or minimum with a negative step). When using a signed type it is up to the API user to ensure this does not happen. If the limit is exceeded for signed types, the result is undefined (as per the C++ standard).

The below will print 0 1 2 ... etc

for (auto&& i : count()) {
    cout << i << '\n';
}

Separate an iterable into groups sharing a common key. The following example creates a new group whenever a string of a different length is encountered.

vector<string> vec = {
    "hi", "ab", "ho",
    "abc", "def",
    "abcde", "efghi"
};

for (auto&& gb : groupby(vec, [] (const string &s) {return s.length(); })) {
    cout << "key: " << gb.first << '\n';
    cout << "content: ";
    for (auto&& s : gb.second) {
        cout << s << "  ";
    }
    cout << '\n';
}

Note: Just like Python's itertools.groupby, this doesn't do any sorting. It just iterates through, making a new group each time there is a key change. Thus, if the group is unsorted, the same key may appear multiple times.

Differs from std::accumulate (which in my humble opinion should be named std::reduce or std::foldl). It is similar to a functional reduce where one can see all of the intermediate results. By default, it keeps a running sum. Prints: 1 3 6 10 15

for (auto&& i : accumulate(range(1, 6))) {
    cout << i << '\n';
}

A second, optional argument may provide an alternative binary function to compute results. The following example multiplies the numbers, rather than adding them. Prints: 1 2 6 24 120

for (auto&& i : accumulate(range(1, 6), std::multiplies<int>{})) {
    cout << i << '\n';
}

Note: The intermediate result type must support default construction and assignment.

Takes an arbitrary number of ranges of different types and efficiently iterates over them in parallel (so an iterator to each container is incremented simultaneously). When you dereference an iterator to "zipped" range you get a tuple of the elements the iterators were holding.

Example usage:

array<int,4> i{{1,2,3,4}};
vector<float> f{1.2,1.4,12.3,4.5,9.9};
vector<string> s{"i","like","apples","alot","dude"};
array<double,5> d{{1.2,1.2,1.2,1.2,1.2}};

for (auto&& e : zip(i,f,s,d)) {
    cout << std::get<0>(e) << ' '
         << std::get<1>(e) << ' '
         << std::get<2>(e) << ' '
         << std::get<3>(e) << '\n';
    std::get<1>(e)=2.2f; // modifies the underlying 'f' array
}

Terminates on the longest sequence instead of the shortest. Repeatedly yields a tuple of boost::optional<T>s where T is the type yielded by the sequences' respective iterators. Because of its boost dependency, zip_longest is not in itertools.hpp and must be included separately. The following loop prints either "Just " or "Nothing" for each element in each tuple yielded.

vector<int> v1 = {0, 1, 2, 3};
vector<int> v2 = {10, 11};
for (auto&& t : zip_longest(v1, v2)) {
    cout << '{';
    if (std::get<0>(t)) {
        cout << "Just " << *std::get<0>(t);
    } else {
        cout << "Nothing";
    }
    cout << ", ";
    if (std::get<1>(t)) {
        cout << "Just " << *std::get<1>(t);
    } else {
        cout << "Nothing";
    }
    cout << "}\n";
}

The output is:

{Just 0, Just 10}
{Just 1, Just 11}
{Just 2, Nothing}
{Just 3, Nothing}

Takes a function and one or more iterables. The number of iterables must match the number of arguments to the function. Applies the function to each element (or elements) in the iterable(s). Terminates on the shortest sequence.

Prints the squares of the numbers in vec: 1 4 9 16 25

vector<int> vec{1, 2, 3, 4, 5};
for (auto&& i : imap([] (int x) {return x * x;}, vec)) {
    cout << i << '\n';
}

With more than one sequence, the below adds corresponding elements from each vector together, printing 11 23 35 47 59 71

vector<int> vec1{1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11};
vector<int> vec2{10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60};
for (auto&& i : imap([] (int x, int y) { return x + y; }, vec1, vec2)) {
    cout << i << '\n';
}

Note: The name imap is chosen to prevent confusion/collision with std::map, and because it is more related to itertools.imap than the python builtin map.

Yields only the values corresponding to true in the selectors iterable. Terminates on the shortest sequence.

Prints 2 6

vector<int> ivec{1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6};
vector<bool> bvec{false, true, false, false, false, true};
for (auto&& i : compress(ivec, bvec) {
    cout << i << '\n';
}

Additional Requirements: Input must have a ForwardIterator

Allows iteration over a sequence in sorted order. sorted does not produce a new sequence, copy elements, or modify the original sequence. It only provides a way to iterate over existing elements. sorted also takes an optional second comparator argument. If not provided, defaults to std::less.
Iterables passed to sorted are required to have an iterator with an operator*() const member.

The below outputs 0 1 2 3 4.

unordered_set<int> nums{4, 0, 2, 1, 3};
for (auto&& i : sorted(nums)) {
    cout << i << '\n';
}

Additional Requirements: The underlying iterators of all containers' operator* must have the exact same type

This can chain any set of ranges together as long as their iterators dereference to the same type.

vector<int> empty{};
vector<int> vec1{1,2,3,4,5,6};
array<int,4> arr1{{7,8,9,10}};

for (auto&& i : chain(empty,vec1,arr1)) {
    cout << i << '\n';
}

Similar to chain, but rather than taking a variadic number of iterables, it takes an iterable of iterables and chains the contained iterables together. A simple example is shown below using a vector of vectors to represent a 2d ragged array, and prints it in row-major order.

vector<vector<int>> matrix = {
    {1, 2, 3},
    {4, 5},
    {6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12}
};

for (auto&& i : chain.from_iterable(matrix)) {
    cout << i << '\n';
}

Iterates over elements of a sequence in reverse order.

for (auto&& i : reversed(a)) {
    cout << i << '\n';
}

Returns selected elements from a range, parameters are start, stop and step. the range returned is [start,stop) where you only take every step element

This outputs 0 3 6 9 12

vector<int> a{0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13};
for (auto&& i : slice(a,0,15,3)) {
    cout << i << '\n';
}

Additional Requirements: Input must have a ForwardIterator

Takes a section from a range and increments the whole section. If the window size is larger than the length of the input, the sliding_window will yield nothing (begin == end).

Example: [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9]

take a section of size 4, output is:

1 2 3 4
2 3 4 5
3 4 5 6
4 5 6 7
5 6 7 8
6 7 8 9

Example Usage:

vector<int> v = {1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9};
for (auto&& sec : sliding_window(v,4)) {
    for (auto&& i : sec) {
        cout << i << ' ';
        i.get() = 90;
    }
    cout << '\n';
}

chunked will yield subsequent chunkes of an iterable in blocks of a specified size. The final chunk may be shorter than the rest if the chunk size given does not evenly divide the length of the iterable

Example usage:

vector<int> v {1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9};
for (auto&& sec : chunked(v,4)) {
    for (auto&& i : sec) {
        cout << i << ' ';
    }
    cout << '\n';
}

The above prints:

1 2 3 4
5 6 7 8
9

Additional Requirements: Input must have a ForwardIterator

Generates the cartesian project of the given ranges put together

Example usage:

vector<int> v1{1,2,3};
vector<int> v2{7,8};
vector<string> v3{"the","cat"};
vector<string> v4{"hi","what","up","dude"};
for (auto&& t : product(v1,v2,v3,v4)) {
    cout << std::get<0>(t) << ", "
        << std::get<1>(t) << ", "
        << std::get<2>(t) << ", "
        << std::get<3>(t) << '\n';
}

Additional Requirements: Input must have a ForwardIterator

Generates n length unique sequences of the input range.

Example usage:

vector<int> v = {1,2,3,4,5};
for (auto&& i : combinations(v,3)) {
    for (auto&& j : i ) cout << j << " ";
    cout << '\n';
}

Additional Requirements: Input must have a ForwardIterator

Like combinations, but with replacement of each element. The below is printed by the loop that follows:

{A, A}
{A, B}
{A, C}
{B, B}
{B, C}
{C, C}

for (auto&& v : combinations_with_replacement(s, 2)) {
    cout << '{' << v[0] << ", " << v[1] << "}\n";
}

Additional Requirements: Input must have a ForwardIterator

Generates all the permutations of a range using std::next_permutation. The iterators of the sequence passed must have an operator*() const

Example usage:

vector<int> v = {1,2,3,4,5};
for (auto&& vec : permutations(v)) {
    for (auto&& i : vec) {
        cout << i << ' ';
    }
    cout << '\n';
}

Additional Requirements: Input must have a ForwardIterator

Generates every possible subset of a set, runs in O(2^n).

Example usage:

vector<int> vec {1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9};
for (auto&& v : powerset(vec)) {
    for (auto&& i : v) {
        cout << i << " ";
    }
    cout << '\n';
}