incrementing list iterators

[Lima]

I'm having a little problem here...

If I have this:
int N = 5;
list <type> newlist;
list <type>::iterator it = newlist.begin();
it = it + N;

on the bold line above, it doesn't let me do it, doesn't even compile.

How can I increment a list iterator N units forward?

[ZuK]

Guess you're looking for advance().
like this

#include<iterator>
#include<list>
#include<iostream>

using namespace std;

int main() {

    list<int> l;
    l.insert(l.end(), 1);
    l.insert(l.end(), 2);
    l.insert(l.end(), 3);
    l.insert(l.end(), 4);

    list<int>::iterator itr = l.begin();

    advance(itr,2);
    cout << *itr << endl;
}

Kurt

[Lima]

yeah it works now, thanks very much ^^

[jk1998]

Could someone explain why it= it + N doesn't work? It works with this

vector<int> the_vector;
  vector<int>::iterator the_iterator;
  for( int i=0; i < 10; i++ )
    the_vector.push_back(i);
  int total = 0;
  the_iterator = the_vector.begin();
  while( the_iterator != the_vector.end() ) {
    total += *the_iterator;
    the_iterator++;
  }
  cout << "Total=" << total << endl;

[Lima]

Could someone explain why it= it + N doesn't work? It works with this

vector<int> the_vector;
  vector<int>::iterator the_iterator;
  for( int i=0; i < 10; i++ )
    the_vector.push_back(i);
  int total = 0;
  the_iterator = the_vector.begin();
  while( the_iterator != the_vector.end() ) {
    total += *the_iterator;
    the_iterator++;
  }
  cout << "Total=" << total << endl;

you are working with vectores there not lists

[laserlight]

List iterators are bidirectional iterators, not random access iterators. Consequently, you can do ++iter, iter++, --iter, and iter-- with list iterators, but not iter += n, iter + n, iter -= n, or iter - n. advance() in this case would just apply ++iter twice to simulate iter + 2.

[jk1998]

Thanks.

[Daved]

Note that technically it + N could be allowed in that it could just do the same thing that advance does. It was purposefully left out because that operation can be slow. If you find yourself using advance with lists often, then you might want to reconsider whether a list is the appropriate container for your needs.