Executor requirements

The library describes a standard set of requirements for executors. A type meeting the Executor requirements embodies a set of rules for determining how submitted function objects are to be executed.

A type X meets the Executor requirements if it satisfies the requirements of CopyConstructible (C++Std [copyconstructible]) and Destructible (C++Std [destructible]), as well as the additional requirements listed below.

No constructor, comparison operator, copy operation, move operation, swap operation, or member functions context, on_work_started, and on_work_finished on these types shall exit via an exception.

The executor copy constructor, comparison operators, and other member functions defined in these requirements shall not introduce data races as a result of concurrent calls to those functions from different threads.

Let ctx be the execution context returned by the executor's context() member function. An executor becomes invalid when the first call to ctx.shutdown() returns. The effect of calling on_work_started, on_work_finished, dispatch, post, or defer on an invalid executor is undefined. [Note: The copy constructor, comparison operators, and context() member function continue to remain valid until ctx is destroyed. —end note]

In the table below, x1 and x2 denote (possibly const) values of type X, mx1 denotes an xvalue of type X, f denotes a MoveConstructible (C++Std [moveconstructible]) function object callable with zero arguments, a denotes a (possibly const) value of type A meeting the Allocator requirements (C++Std [allocator.requirements]), and u denotes an identifier.

Table 15. Executor requirements

expression	type	assertion/note pre/post-conditions
`X u(x1);`		Shall not exit via an exception. post: `u == x1` and `std::addressof(u.context()) == std::addressof(x1.context()).`
`X u(mx1);`		Shall not exit via an exception. post: `u` equals the prior value of `mx1` and `std::addressof(u.context())` equals the prior value of `std::addressof(mx1.context())`.
`x1 == x2`	`bool`	Returns `true` only if `x1` and `x2` can be interchanged with identical effects in any of the expressions defined in these type requirements. [Note: Returning `false` does not necessarily imply that the effects are not identical. —end note] `operator==` shall be reflexive, symmetric, and transitive, and shall not exit via an exception.
`x1 != x2`	`bool`	Same as `!(x1 == x2)`.
`x1.context()`	`execution_context&`, or `E&` where `E` is a type that satifisfies the `ExecutionContext` requirements.	Shall not exit via an exception. The comparison operators and member functions defined in these requirements shall not alter the reference returned by this function.
`x1.on_work_started()`		Shall not exit via an exception.
`x1.on_work_finished()`		Shall not exit via an exception. Precondition: A preceding call `x2.on_work_started()` where `x1 == x2`.
`x1.dispatch(std::move(f),a)`		Effects: Creates an object `f1` initialized with `DECAY_COPY(forward<Func>(f))` (C++Std [thread.decaycopy]) in the current thread of execution . Calls `f1()` at most once. The executor may block forward progress of the caller until `f1()` finishes execution. Executor implementations should use the supplied allocator to allocate any memory required to store the function object. Prior to invoking the function object, the executor shall deallocate any memory allocated. [Note: Executors defined in this Technical Specification always use the supplied allocator unless otherwise specified. —end note] Synchronization: The invocation of `dispatch` synchronizes with (C++Std [intro.multithread]) the invocation of `f1`.
`x1.post(std::move(f),a)` `x1.defer(std::move(f),a)`		Effects: Creates an object `f1` initialized with `DECAY_COPY(forward<Func>(f))` in the current thread of execution. Calls `f1()` at most once. The executor shall not block forward progress of the caller pending completion of `f1()`. Executor implementations should use the supplied allocator to allocate any memory required to store the function object. Prior to invoking the function object, the executor shall deallocate any memory allocated. [Note: Executors defined in this Technical Specification always use the supplied allocator unless otherwise specified. —end note] Synchronization: The invocation of `post` or `defer` synchronizes with (C++Std [intro.multithread]) the invocation of `f1`. [Note: Although the requirements placed on `defer` are identical to `post`, the use of `post` conveys a preference that the caller does not block the first step of `f1`'s progress, whereas `defer` conveys a preference that the caller does block the first step of `f1`. One use of `defer` is to convey the intention of the caller that `f1` is a continuation of the current call context. The executor may use this information to optimize or otherwise adjust the way in which `f1` is invoked. —end note]