Extend memcpy fast path to sized sentinels (e.g. std::counted_iterator)

Extend the memcpy fast path in iterator_input_adapter to sized
sentinels of a different type, not just same-type iterator pairs.
std::counted_iterator paired with std::default_sentinel_t already
satisfies std::contiguous_iterator and std::sized_sentinel_for, so
std::ranges::distance (C++20) lets that combination reach the fast
path too, instead of silently falling back to the byte-by-byte path.

- iterator_is_contiguous now also allows std::sized_sentinel_for<SentinelType,
  IteratorType> under C++20, gated the same way as the existing
  std::contiguous_iterator detection.
- get_elements_impl's fast path uses std::ranges::distance under C++20
  (works for both same-type and sized-sentinel pairs) and falls back to
  std::distance pre-C++20, where SentinelType is always IteratorType.
- Add a C++20-only test exercising json::parse/accept with
  std::counted_iterator + std::default_sentinel_t.
- Document std::default_sentinel_t + std::counted_iterator as a
  SentinelType example across parse.md, accept.md, sax_parse.md, and
  the five from_*.md pages, replacing an earlier ambiguously worded
  bullet.

Addresses review feedback: https://github.com/nlohmann/json/pull/5265#discussion_r3564237584

Signed-off-by: Niels Lohmann <mail@nlohmann.me>

docs/mkdocs/docs/api/basic_json/accept.md

@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ Unlike the [`parse()`](parse.md) function, this function neither throws an excep
 :   defaults to `IteratorType`; may be a different type comparable to `IteratorType` via `operator!=`, for instance.
 
     - a custom sentinel type for C++20 ranges
-    - `std::counted_iterator` with a different sentinel type
+    - `std::default_sentinel_t`, when `IteratorType` is `std::counted_iterator`
 
 ## Parameters
 

docs/mkdocs/docs/api/basic_json/from_bjdata.md

@@ -36,8 +36,10 @@ The exact mapping and its limitations are described on a [dedicated page](../../
 :   a compatible iterator type
 
 `SentinelType`
-:   defaults to `IteratorType`; may be a different type comparable to `IteratorType` via `operator!=`, for instance a
-    custom sentinel type for C++20 ranges
+:   defaults to `IteratorType`; may be a different type comparable to `IteratorType` via `operator!=`, for instance.
+
+    - a custom sentinel type for C++20 ranges
+    - `std::default_sentinel_t`, when `IteratorType` is `std::counted_iterator`
 
 ## Parameters
 

docs/mkdocs/docs/api/basic_json/from_bson.md

@@ -36,8 +36,10 @@ The exact mapping and its limitations are described on a [dedicated page](../../
 :   a compatible iterator type
 
 `SentinelType`
-:   defaults to `IteratorType`; may be a different type comparable to `IteratorType` via `operator!=`, for instance a
-    custom sentinel type for C++20 ranges
+:   defaults to `IteratorType`; may be a different type comparable to `IteratorType` via `operator!=`, for instance.
+
+    - a custom sentinel type for C++20 ranges
+    - `std::default_sentinel_t`, when `IteratorType` is `std::counted_iterator`
 
 ## Parameters
 

docs/mkdocs/docs/api/basic_json/from_cbor.md

@@ -39,8 +39,10 @@ The exact mapping and its limitations are described on a [dedicated page](../../
 :   a compatible iterator type
 
 `SentinelType`
-:   defaults to `IteratorType`; may be a different type comparable to `IteratorType` via `operator!=`, for instance a
-    custom sentinel type for C++20 ranges
+:   defaults to `IteratorType`; may be a different type comparable to `IteratorType` via `operator!=`, for instance.
+
+    - a custom sentinel type for C++20 ranges
+    - `std::default_sentinel_t`, when `IteratorType` is `std::counted_iterator`
 
 ## Parameters
 

docs/mkdocs/docs/api/basic_json/from_msgpack.md

@@ -36,8 +36,10 @@ The exact mapping and its limitations are described on a [dedicated page](../../
 :   a compatible iterator type
 
 `SentinelType`
-:   defaults to `IteratorType`; may be a different type comparable to `IteratorType` via `operator!=`, for instance a
-    custom sentinel type for C++20 ranges
+:   defaults to `IteratorType`; may be a different type comparable to `IteratorType` via `operator!=`, for instance.
+
+    - a custom sentinel type for C++20 ranges
+    - `std::default_sentinel_t`, when `IteratorType` is `std::counted_iterator`
 
 ## Parameters
 

docs/mkdocs/docs/api/basic_json/from_ubjson.md

@@ -36,8 +36,10 @@ The exact mapping and its limitations are described on a [dedicated page](../../
 :   a compatible iterator type
 
 `SentinelType`
-:   defaults to `IteratorType`; may be a different type comparable to `IteratorType` via `operator!=`, for instance a
-    custom sentinel type for C++20 ranges
+:   defaults to `IteratorType`; may be a different type comparable to `IteratorType` via `operator!=`, for instance.
+
+    - a custom sentinel type for C++20 ranges
+    - `std::default_sentinel_t`, when `IteratorType` is `std::counted_iterator`
 
 ## Parameters
 

docs/mkdocs/docs/api/basic_json/parse.md

@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ static basic_json parse(IteratorType first, SentinelType last,
 :   defaults to `IteratorType`; may be a different type comparable to `IteratorType` via `operator!=`, for instance.
 
     - a custom sentinel type for C++20 ranges
-    - `std::counted_iterator` with a different sentinel type
+    - `std::default_sentinel_t`, when `IteratorType` is `std::counted_iterator`
 
 ## Parameters
 

docs/mkdocs/docs/api/basic_json/sax_parse.md

@@ -48,7 +48,10 @@ The SAX event lister must follow the interface of [`json_sax`](../json_sax/index
     with a size of 1, 2, or 4 bytes (interpreted respectively as UTF-8, UTF-16, and UTF-32)
 
 `SentinelType`
-:   defaults to `IteratorType`; may be a different type comparable to `IteratorType` via `operator!=`, for overload (2)
+:   defaults to `IteratorType`; may be a different type comparable to `IteratorType` via `operator!=`, for overload (2), for instance.
+
+    - a custom sentinel type for C++20 ranges
+    - `std::default_sentinel_t`, when `IteratorType` is `std::counted_iterator`
 
 `SAX`
 :   a class fulfilling the SAX event listener interface; see [`json_sax`](../json_sax/index.md)

include/nlohmann/detail/input/input_adapters.hpp

@@ -220,20 +220,29 @@ class iterator_input_adapter
     // whether IteratorType refers to a contiguous range and therefore supports
     // a std::memcpy fast path (pointers always do; in C++20 we can also detect
     // library iterators such as those of std::vector and std::string).
-    // The fast path also requires SentinelType == IteratorType so std::distance works.
+    // Computing the available element count needs either same-type iterators
+    // (plain std::distance) or, in C++20, a sized sentinel (std::ranges::distance),
+    // e.g. std::counted_iterator paired with std::default_sentinel_t.
     static constexpr bool iterator_is_contiguous =
-        std::is_same<IteratorType, SentinelType>::value && (
 #if defined(__cpp_lib_concepts) && defined(JSON_HAS_CPP_20)
-            std::contiguous_iterator<IteratorType> ||
+        (std::is_same<IteratorType, SentinelType>::value || std::sized_sentinel_for<SentinelType, IteratorType>)
+        && (std::contiguous_iterator<IteratorType> || std::is_pointer<IteratorType>::value);
+#else
+        std::is_same<IteratorType, SentinelType>::value && std::is_pointer<IteratorType>::value;
 #endif
-            std::is_pointer<IteratorType>::value);
 
     // contiguous fast path: bulk copy the remaining range with std::memcpy
     template<class T>
     std::size_t get_elements_impl(T* dest, std::size_t count, std::true_type /*contiguous*/)
     {
         const std::size_t wanted = count * sizeof(T);
+#if defined(__cpp_lib_concepts) && defined(JSON_HAS_CPP_20)
+        // std::ranges::distance also supports sized sentinels of a different
+        // type (e.g. std::counted_iterator + std::default_sentinel_t)
+        const std::size_t available = static_cast<std::size_t>(std::ranges::distance(current, end)) * sizeof(char_type);
+#else
         const std::size_t available = static_cast<std::size_t>(std::distance(current, end)) * sizeof(char_type);
+#endif
         const std::size_t copied = (std::min)(wanted, available);
         if (JSON_HEDLEY_LIKELY(copied != 0))
         {

single_include/nlohmann/json.hpp

@@ -7057,20 +7057,29 @@ class iterator_input_adapter
     // whether IteratorType refers to a contiguous range and therefore supports
     // a std::memcpy fast path (pointers always do; in C++20 we can also detect
     // library iterators such as those of std::vector and std::string).
-    // The fast path also requires SentinelType == IteratorType so std::distance works.
+    // Computing the available element count needs either same-type iterators
+    // (plain std::distance) or, in C++20, a sized sentinel (std::ranges::distance),
+    // e.g. std::counted_iterator paired with std::default_sentinel_t.
     static constexpr bool iterator_is_contiguous =
-        std::is_same<IteratorType, SentinelType>::value && (
 #if defined(__cpp_lib_concepts) && defined(JSON_HAS_CPP_20)
-            std::contiguous_iterator<IteratorType> ||
+        (std::is_same<IteratorType, SentinelType>::value || std::sized_sentinel_for<SentinelType, IteratorType>)
+        && (std::contiguous_iterator<IteratorType> || std::is_pointer<IteratorType>::value);
+#else
+        std::is_same<IteratorType, SentinelType>::value && std::is_pointer<IteratorType>::value;
 #endif
-            std::is_pointer<IteratorType>::value);
 
     // contiguous fast path: bulk copy the remaining range with std::memcpy
     template<class T>
     std::size_t get_elements_impl(T* dest, std::size_t count, std::true_type /*contiguous*/)
     {
         const std::size_t wanted = count * sizeof(T);
+#if defined(__cpp_lib_concepts) && defined(JSON_HAS_CPP_20)
+        // std::ranges::distance also supports sized sentinels of a different
+        // type (e.g. std::counted_iterator + std::default_sentinel_t)
+        const std::size_t available = static_cast<std::size_t>(std::ranges::distance(current, end)) * sizeof(char_type);
+#else
         const std::size_t available = static_cast<std::size_t>(std::distance(current, end)) * sizeof(char_type);
+#endif
         const std::size_t copied = (std::min)(wanted, available);
         if (JSON_HEDLEY_LIKELY(copied != 0))
         {

tests/src/unit-user_defined_input.cpp

@@ -6,6 +6,13 @@
 // SPDX-FileCopyrightText: 2013-2026 Niels Lohmann <https://nlohmann.me>
 // SPDX-License-Identifier: MIT
 
+// cmake/test.cmake selects the C++ standard versions with which to build a
+// unit test based on the presence of JSON_HAS_CPP_<VERSION> macros.
+// When using macros that are only defined for particular versions of the standard
+// (e.g., JSON_HAS_FILESYSTEM for C++17 and up), please mention the corresponding
+// version macro in a comment close by, like this:
+// JSON_HAS_CPP_<VERSION> (do not remove; see note at top of file)
+
 #include "doctest_compatibility.h"
 
 #include <nlohmann/json.hpp>
@@ -13,6 +20,10 @@ using nlohmann::json;
 
 #include <list>
 
+#if defined(__cpp_lib_concepts) && defined(JSON_HAS_CPP_20)
+    #include <iterator>
+#endif
+
 namespace
 {
 TEST_CASE("Use arbitrary stdlib container")
@@ -201,4 +212,21 @@ TEST_CASE("Parse with heterogeneous iterator and sentinel types")
     CHECK(j2.at(0) == 1);
 }
 
+#if defined(__cpp_lib_concepts) && defined(JSON_HAS_CPP_20)
+// JSON_HAS_CPP_20 (do not remove; see note at top of file)
+TEST_CASE("Parse with std::counted_iterator and std::default_sentinel_t")
+{
+    const std::string json_str = R"({"key":"value","array":[1,2,3]})";
+    const auto len = static_cast<std::iter_difference_t<std::string::const_iterator>>(json_str.size());
+
+    std::counted_iterator first(json_str.begin(), len);
+    const json j = json::parse(first, std::default_sentinel);
+    CHECK(j["key"] == "value");
+    CHECK(j["array"].size() == 3);
+
+    std::counted_iterator first2(json_str.begin(), len);
+    CHECK(json::accept(first2, std::default_sentinel));
+}
+#endif
+
 } // namespace