std::exchange

Header: <utility>

Replaces the value of obj with new_value and returns the old value of obj.

# Declarations

template< class T, class U = T >
T exchange( T& obj, U&& new_value );

(since C++14) (constexpr since C++20)(conditionally noexcept since C++23)

# Parameters

# Return value

The old value of obj.

# Notes

std::exchange can be used when implementing move assignment operators and move constructors:

# Example

#include <iostream>
#include <iterator>
#include <utility>
#include <vector>
 
class stream
{
public:
    using flags_type = int;
 
public:
    flags_type flags() const { return flags_; }
 
    // Replaces flags_ by newf, and returns the old value.
    flags_type flags(flags_type newf) { return std::exchange(flags_, newf); }
 
private:
    flags_type flags_ = 0;
};
 
void f() { std::cout << "f()"; }
 
int main()
{
    stream s;
 
    std::cout << s.flags() << '\n';
    std::cout << s.flags(12) << '\n';
    std::cout << s.flags() << "\n\n";
 
    std::vector<int> v;
 
    // Since the second template parameter has a default value, it is possible
    // to use a braced-init-list as second argument. The expression below
    // is equivalent to std::exchange(v, std::vector<int>{1, 2, 3, 4});
 
    std::exchange(v, {1, 2, 3, 4});
 
    std::copy(begin(v), end(v), std::ostream_iterator<int>(std::cout, ", "));
 
    std::cout << "\n\n";
 
    void (*fun)();
 
    // The default value of template parameter also makes possible to use a
    // normal function as second argument. The expression below is equivalent to
    // std::exchange(fun, static_cast<void(*)()>(f))
    std::exchange(fun, f);
    fun();
 
    std::cout << "\n\nFibonacci sequence: ";
    for (int a{0}, b{1}; a < 100; a = std::exchange(b, a + b))
        std::cout << a << ", ";
    std::cout << "...\n";
}

# See also