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What is std::span and when should I use it in my C code?

Linda Hamilton
Linda HamiltonOriginal
2024-12-22 18:30:19145browse

What is std::span and when should I use it in my C   code?

Span: A Lightweight Abstraction for Contiguous Data Sequences

Recently, there has been increased discussion surrounding the use of span in C . However, confusion persists about its definition and appropriate usage. This article aims to clarify the concept of span and provide insights into its benefits and applications.

Understanding Span

A span is a lightweight abstraction representing a contiguous sequence of values of type T stored in memory. It is essentially a struct that holds a pointer to the start of the sequence and its length in elements. Unlike pointers, span carries additional information about the bounds of the data, enabling bounds-safe operations.

When to Use Span

While span can be used in various scenarios, it's crucial to avoid its use where a pair of iterators or a range (as in C 20) suffices. Instead, consider using span in the following situations:

  • When allocated length/size matters: Replace function signatures like void read_into(int* buffer, size_t buffer_size) with void read_into(span buffer).

Benefits of Span

Adopting span brings several advantages:

  • Enhanced functionality: span provides a convenient syntax and rich functionality, allowing you to iterate over elements, perform searches, and compare spans.
  • Compiler assistance: The compiler can optimize code written with span, often leading to simplified syntax and improved performance.
  • Increased safety: span includes bounds-checking, which can help prevent errors associated with overwriting data outside the intended bounds.
  • Efficient memory handling: As span is a non-owning type, it does not allocate or deallocate memory, reducing overhead.

Availability of Span

In C 20, std::span was introduced as part of the standard library. However, for earlier C versions, it is available through third-party libraries such as the Core Guidelines Support Library (GSL) and GSL-Lite.

Conclusion

span is a valuable tool that provides a lightweight and safe abstraction for handling contiguous data sequences. Its versatility and ease of use make it an excellent choice for various programming tasks, especially when dealing with memory management and bounds-safe operations.

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