KITFORMA · EDITORIAL ANSWER
Should a one-element C++ range own its value or borrow it?
KitForma editorial guide. A one-element span borrows an existing object, whereas single_view stores a value. These can look interchangeable in a pipeline while carrying different lifetime and mutation semantics.
Step-by-step answer
A one-element span borrows an existing object, whereas single_view stores a value. These can look interchangeable in a pipeline while carrying different lifetime and mutation semantics.
On C++20, use
auto owned = std::views::single(7); for an owned scalar example. Use a span over a named object when changes should affect that external object and it remains alive. For a move-only value, verify support in the selected language/library version rather than assuming every single_view implementation accepts it.
Destroy the original source in a test and check which design remains valid. A wrapper containing a pointer still owns only that pointer value, not its pointee.Sources and verification
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