What's the difference between std::advance and std::next?

Is there more beyond advance takes negative numbers?

Solution 1:

std::advance

• modifies its argument
• returns nothing
• works on input iterators or better (or bi-directional iterators if a negative distance is given)

std::next

• leaves its argument unmodified
• returns a copy of the argument, advanced by the specified amount
• works on forward iterators or better (or bi-directional iterators if a negative distance is given))

Solution 2:

Perhaps the biggest practical difference is that std::next() is only available from C++11.

std::next() will advance by one by default, whereas std::advance() requires a distance.

And then there are the return values:

• std::advance(): (none) (the iterator passed in is modified)
• std::next(): The n th successor.

std::next() takes negative numbers just like std::advance, and in that case requires that the iterator must be bidirectional. std::prev() would be more readable when the intent is specifically to move backwards.