| |
| The MPL provides a broad range of fundamental algorithms aimed to |
| satisfy the majority of sequential compile-time data processing |
| needs. The algorithms include compile-time counterparts |
| of many of the STL algorithms, iteration algorithms borrowed from |
| functional programming languages, and more. |
| |
| Unlike the algorithms in the C++ Standard Library, which operate on |
| implict *iterator ranges*, the majority of MPL counterparts take |
| and return *sequences*. This derivation is not dictated by the |
| functional nature of C++ compile-time computations per se, but |
| rather by a desire to improve general usability of the library, |
| making programming with compile-time data structures as enjoyable |
| as possible. |
| |
| .. This can be seen as a further generalization and extension of |
| the STL's conceptual framework. |
| |
| In the spirit of the STL, MPL algorithms are *generic*, meaning |
| that they are not tied to particular sequence class |
| implementations, and can operate on a wide range of arguments as |
| long as they satisfy the documented requirements. The requirements |
| are formulated in terms of concepts. Under the hood, |
| algorithms are decoupled from concrete sequence |
| implementations by operating on |iterators|. |
| |
| All MPL algorithms can be sorted into three |
| major categories: iteration algorithms, querying algorithms, and |
| transformation algorithms. The transformation algorithms introduce |
| an associated |Inserter| concept, a rough equivalent for the notion of |
| |Output Iterator| in the Standard Library. Moreover, every |
| transformation algorithm provides a ``reverse_`` counterpart, |
| allowing for a wider range of efficient transformations |--| a |
| common functionality documented by the |Reversible Algorithm| |
| concept. |
| |
| |
| .. |Output Iterator| replace:: `Output Iterator <http://www.sgi.com/tech/stl/OutputIterator.html>`__ |
| .. |sequence algorithms| replace:: `sequence algorithms`_ |
| .. _`sequence algorithms`: `Algorithms`_ |
| |
| |
| .. copyright:: Copyright © 2001-2009 Aleksey Gurtovoy and David Abrahams |
| Distributed under the Boost Software License, Version 1.0. (See accompanying |
| file LICENSE_1_0.txt or copy at http://www.boost.org/LICENSE_1_0.txt) |
