How do I avoid exceptions and handle errors std::span in C++?

To avoid exceptions while using std::span, you can use member functions to check the validity of a span before performing operations. The following example demonstrates how to safely handle a span and manage potential errors.

#include <span>
#include <iostream>

void processSpan(std::span<int> mySpan) {
    // Check if span is empty
    if (mySpan.empty()) {
        std::cerr << "Error: Span is empty!" << std::endl;
        return;
    }

    for (size_t i = 0; i < mySpan.size(); ++i) {
        // Safely access elements by ensuring index is within bounds
        if (i < mySpan.size()) {
            std::cout << "Element at index " << i << ": " << mySpan[i] << std::endl;
        }
    }
}

int main() {
    int arr[] = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5};
    std::span<int> mySpan(arr, 5);

    processSpan(mySpan); // Normal operation

    std::span<int> emptySpan; // Creating an empty span
    processSpan(emptySpan); // Error handling for empty span

    return 0;
}
        

This approach allows for graceful error handling without throwing exceptions, providing a safer way to work with spans in C++.