multiset::equal_range

Returns a pair of iterators respectively to the first element in a multiset with a key that is greater than a specified key and to the first element in the multiset with a key that is equal to or greater than the key.

pair <const_iterator, const_iterator> 
   equal_range (
      const Key& _Key
   ) const;

pair <iterator, iterator> 
   equal_range (
      const Key& _Key
   );

Parameters

• _Key
  The argument key to be compared with the sort key of an element from the multiset being searched.

Return Value

A pair of iterators such that the first is the lower_bound of the key and the second is the upper_bound of the key.

To access the first iterator of a pair pr returned by the member function, use pr.first, and to dereference the lower bound iterator, use *(pr.first). To access the second iterator of a pair pr returned by the member function, use pr.second, and to dereference the upper bound iterator, use *(pr.second).

Example

// multiset_equal_range.cpp
// compile with: /EHsc
#include <set>
#include <iostream>

int main( )
{
   using namespace std;    
   typedef multiset<int, less<int> > IntSet;
   IntSet ms1;
   multiset <int> :: const_iterator ms1_RcIter;
   
   ms1.insert( 10 );
   ms1.insert( 20 );
   ms1.insert( 30 );

   pair <IntSet::const_iterator, IntSet::const_iterator> p1, p2;
   p1 = ms1.equal_range( 20 );

   cout << "The upper bound of the element with "
        << "a key of 20 in the multiset ms1 is: "
        << *( p1.second ) << "." << endl;

   cout << "The lower bound of the element with "
        << "a key of 20 in the multiset ms1 is: "
        << *( p1.first ) << "." << endl;

   // Compare the upper_bound called directly 
   ms1_RcIter = ms1.upper_bound( 20 );
   cout << "A direct call of upper_bound( 20 ) gives "
        << *ms1_RcIter << "," << endl
        << "matching the 2nd element of the pair"
        << " returned by equal_range( 20 )." << endl;

   p2 = ms1.equal_range( 40 );

   // If no match is found for the key,
   // both elements of the pair return end( )
   if ( ( p2.first == ms1.end( ) ) && ( p2.second == ms1.end( ) ) )
      cout << "The multiset ms1 doesn't have an element "
              << "with a key less than 40." << endl;
   else
      cout << "The element of multiset ms1 with a key >= 40 is: "
                << *( p1.first ) << "." << endl;
}

The upper bound of the element with a key of 20 in the multiset ms1 is: 30.
The lower bound of the element with a key of 20 in the multiset ms1 is: 20.
A direct call of upper_bound( 20 ) gives 30,
matching the 2nd element of the pair returned by equal_range( 20 ).
The multiset ms1 doesn't have an element with a key less than 40.

Requirements

Header: <set>

Namespace: std

See Also

Concepts

multiset Class

multiset Members

Standard Template Library