Why Use Non-Member `begin` and `end` Functions in C 11?

Why Utilize Non-Member begin and end Functions in C 11?

Standard containers in C 11 provide both member functions, begin and end, and free functions with the same names. However, questions arise about the advantages and use cases of these free functions, especially considering their apparent redundancy in standard containers.

While the free functions, introduced in C 11, may appear to simply call their corresponding container member functions, they offer significant benefits, particularly for non-standard containers and scenarios involving heterogeneous collections of containers.

Additionally, free functions provide greater flexibility and type safety when handling iterators for different container types. For instance, they enable the use of begin and end in situations where the container itself does not have its own begin or end member functions, such as with C-arrays.

By using free begin and end functions, you can achieve more generic programming, applicable to a wider range of data structures, including those that are unmodifiable or lacking their own bespoke iterator implementation. This enhances code reusability and simplifies the manipulation of heterogeneous container collections.

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