typedefs:
es.get<1>().find("Judy Smith");
+
+The iterators provided by every index are constant, that is, the elements they point to
+cannot be mutated directly. This follows the interface of std::set for ordered
+indices but might come as a surprise for other types such as sequenced indices, which are modeled after
+std::list, where this limitation does not happen. This seemingly odd behavior
+is imposed by the way multi_index_containers work; if elements were
+allowed to be mutated indiscriminately, we could introduce inconsistencies
+in the ordered indices of the multi_index_container without the container
+being notified about it. Element modification is properly done by means of
+update operations on any index.
+
std::list permits. The interface of sequenced indices
is thus designed upon that of std::list; nearly every operation
provided in the standard container is replicated here, occasionally with changes
in the syntax and/or semantics to cope with the constraints imposed by
-Boost.MultiIndex. In particular, there is an important limitation of sequenced
-indices with respect to std::lists, namely that elements of an
-multi_index_container are not mutable through an iterator:
+Boost.MultiIndex. An important difference, commented above,
+is the fact that sequenced index iterators are constant:
@@ -1076,11 +1087,7 @@ indices with respect tostd::lists, namely that elements of an
-That is, iterators of a sequenced index (of all types of indices, actually)
-point to constant elements. This limitation might come as a surprise, but
-it is imposed by the way multi_index_containers work; if elements were
-allowed to be changed in this manner, we could introduce inconsistencies
-in other ordered indices of the multi_index_container. Element modification
+As with any other type of index, element modification
can nevertheless be done by means of
update operations.
Revised November 7th 2008
+Revised November 11th 2014
-© Copyright 2003-2008 Joaquín M López Muñoz. +
© Copyright 2003-2014 Joaquín M López Muñoz. Distributed under the Boost Software License, Version 1.0. (See accompanying file LICENSE_1_0.txt or copy at