.\" ident	@(#)Array_alg:man/copy.3	3.2
.\"
.\" C++ Standard Components, Release 3.0.
.\"
.\" Copyright (c) 1991, 1992 AT&T and UNIX System Laboratories, Inc.
.\" Copyright (c) 1988, 1989, 1990 AT&T.  All Rights Reserved.
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.TH \f3copy\fP \f3Array_alg(3C++)\fP " "
.SH NAME
copy \- copy an array to a new location
.SH SYNOPSIS OF Array_alg.h
.Bf

    template <class \*gt>
    void copy(\*(gt* b1,\*(gt* e1,\*(gt* b2);

.Be
.SH ASSUMPTIONS
.PP
(1) The output array has at least as many cells as the 
input array.
.br
(2) \*(gt has \f4operator=\f1.
.SH DESCRIPTION
.PP
Moves the contents of every cell in the
array starting at \f4b1\f1 into the array starting
at \f4b2\f1.
.SH COMPLEXITY
.PP
If \f2N\f1 is the size of the array,
then complexity is \f2O(N)\f1.
Exactly \f2N\f1 assignments are done unless \f4b1\f1 
is equal to \f4b2\f1, in which case no assignments
are done.
.SH NOTES
\f4copy\f1 is the only function that allows
input and output arrays to overlap; in 
particular, none of the "copy versions" (functions
with their \f4c\f1 suffix) allows overlap.  
Since \f4copy\f1 allows the input array to be changed,
the parameters \f4b1\f1 and \f4e1\f1 have 
type \f4\*(gt*\f1, rather than \f4const \*(gt*\f1.
.SH NOTES
Because a Block (see \f3Block(3C++)\f1)
can always be used wherever an array is called for,
Array Algorithms can also be used with Blocks.
In fact, these two components were actually designed 
to be used together.
.SH SEE ALSO
.Bf
\f3intro(.)\f1
\f3Block(3C++)\f1
.Be