# std::map<Key,T,Compare,Allocator>::equal_range

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< cpp‎ | container‎ | map

std::pair <iterator,iterator> equal_range( const Key& key ); | (1) |
std::pair <const_iterator,const_iterator> equal_range( const Key& key ) const; | (2) |
template< class K > std::pair <iterator,iterator> equal_range( const K& x ); | (3) | (since C++14)
template< class K > std::pair <const_iterator,const_iterator> equal_range( const K& x ) const; | (4) | (since C++14)

Returns a range containing all elements with the given key in the container. The range is defined by two iterators, one pointing to the first element that is not less than `key` and another pointing to the first element greater than `key`. Alternatively, the first iterator may be obtained with lower_bound(), and the second with upper_bound().

1,2) Compares the keys to `key`.
3,4) Compares the keys to the value `x`. This overload only participates in overload resolution if the qualified-id Compare::is_transparent is valid and denotes a type. They allow calling this function without constructing an instance of `Key`.

| This section is incomplete Reason: explain better

### Parameters

key | - | key value to compare the elements to
x | - | alternative value that can be compared to `Key`

### Return value

std::pair containing a pair of iterators defining the wanted range: the first pointing to the first element that is not less than `key` and the second pointing to the first element greater than `key`.

If there are no elements not less than `key`, past-the-end (see end()) iterator is returned as the first element. Similarly if there are no elements greater than `key`, past-the-end iterator is returned as the second element.

### Complexity

Logarithmic in the size of the container.

### Example

Run this code

    #include <map>
    #include <iostream>

    int main()
    {
        const std::map<int, const char*> m{
            { 0, "zero" },
            { 1, "one" },
            { 2, "two" },
        };

        {
            auto p = m.equal_range(1);
            for (auto& q = p.first; q != p.second; ++q) {
                std::cout << "m[" << q->first << "] = " << q->second << '\n';
            }

            if (p.second == m.find(2)) {
                std::cout << "end of equal_range (p.second) is one-past p.first\n";
            } else {
                std::cout << "unexpected; p.second expected to be one-past p.first\n";
            }
        }

        {
            auto pp = m.equal_range(-1);
            if (pp.first == m.begin()) {
                std::cout << "pp.first is iterator to first not-less than -1\n";
            } else {
                std::cout << "unexpected pp.first\n";
            }

            if (pp.second == m.begin()) {
                std::cout << "pp.second is iterator to first element greater-than -1\n";
            } else {
                std::cout << "unexpected pp.second\n";
            }
        }

        {
            auto ppp = m.equal_range(3);
            if (ppp.first == m.end()) {
                std::cout << "ppp.first is iterator to first not-less than 3\n";
            } else {
                std::cout << "unexpected ppp.first\n";
            }

            if (ppp.second == m.end()) {
                std::cout << "ppp.second is iterator to first element greater-than 3\n";
            } else {
                std::cout << "unexpected ppp.second\n";
            }
        }
    }

Output:

    m[1] = one
    end of equal_range (p.second) is one-past p.first
    pp.first is iterator to first not-less than -1
    pp.second is iterator to first element greater-than -1
    ppp.first is iterator to first not-less than 3
    ppp.second is iterator to first element greater-than 3

### See also

find | finds element with specific key (public member function)
upper_bound | returns an iterator to the first element greater than the given key (public member function)
lower_bound | returns an iterator to the first element not less than the given key (public member function)

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