std::array rend()/crend() method

since C++17

// Non-const version
constexpr iterator rend() noexcept;

// Const version
constexpr const_iterator rend() const noexcept;
constexpr const_iterator crend() const noexcept;

until C++17

// Non-const version
iterator rend() noexcept;

// Const version
const_iterator rend() const noexcept;
const_iterator crend() const noexcept;

It corresponds to the last element of the non-reversed array.

Returns a reverse iterator

to the last element of the reversed array. It corresponds to the element preceding the first element of the non-reversed array.

It effectively returns an iterator that points past the end of the original array. Attempting to dereference a past-the-end iterator is undefined behaviour

.

note

This method doesn't actually reverse the array, it just returns an iterator that points to the element before the first element of the array, and whose +, -, --, ++ operators have slightly changed implementations.

For example it++ decrements the internal pointer and it-- increments it (so that traversing the container in a reverse order actually works).

If the container is empty, the returned iterator will be equal to rbegin().

Parameters

(none)

Return value

Reverse iterator to the element before the first element.

Complexity

Constant.

Why before the first element?

important

This section requires improvement. You can help by editing this doc page.

Difference between rend and crend

For a const container c, rend and crend are the same - c.rend() == c.crend()

For non-const container of type c they return different iterators:

Non const container

rend

#include <array> 

int main()
{
	std::array<int, 5> arr = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5};
	auto it = arr.rend(); // Type: std::array<int, 5>::reverse_iterator
	*std::prev(it) = 5; // ✔ Ok
}

crend

#include <array>

int main()
{
	std::array<int, 5> arr = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5};
	auto it = arr.crend(); // Type: std::array<int, 5>::reverse_const_iterator
	// ❌ Error!
	*std::prev(it) = 5; 
}

Const container

rend

#include <array>

int main()
{
	const std::array<int, 5> arr = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5};
	auto it = arr.rend(); // Type: std::array<int, 5>::reverse_const_iterator
	// ❌ Error!
	*std::prev(it) = 5;
}

crend

#include <array>

int main()
{
	const std::array<int, 5> arr = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5};
	auto it = arr.crend(); // Type: std::array<int, 5>::reverse_const_iterator
	// ❌ Error!
	*std::prev(it) = 5;
}

Example

Main.cpp

#include <algorithm>
#include <array>
#include <iostream>
 
int main()
{
	std::array<int, 11> a {1, 11, 11, 35, 0, 12, 79, 76, 76, 69, 40};
 
	// print elements of array in reverse order using const_reverse_iterator`s
	std::for_each(a.crbegin(), a.crend(), [](int e){ std::cout << e << ' '; });
	//              ^^           ^^
	std::cout << '\n';
 
	// modify each element of array using non-const reverse_iterator`s
	std::for_each(a.rbegin(), a.rend(), [](int& e){ e += 32; });
	//              ^           ^             ^
 
	// print elements as chars in reverse order using const_reverse_iterator`s
	std::for_each(a.crbegin(), a.crend(), [](char e){ std::cout << e; });
	//              ^^           ^^          ^^^^
	std::cout << '\n';
}

Output

40 69 76 76 79 12 0 35 11 11 1 
Hello, C++!