So, what do people prefer (and why?): template<typename InputIterator, typename V> bool none_of_equal ( InputIterator first, InputIterator last, V const &val ) { for ( ; first != last; ++first ) if ( val == *first ) return false; return true; } or template<typename InputIterator, > bool none_of_equal ( InputIterator first, InputIterator last, iterator_traits<InputIterator>::value_type const &val ) { for ( ; first != last; ++first ) if ( val == *first ) return false; return true; } In the first case, I think there's (possible) conversion from V to iterator_traits<InputIterator>::value_type each time through the loop. In the second case, there is not. Of course, the (mythical?) smart compiler would do the conversion once and save the result for reuse. -- Marshall Marshall Clow Idio Software <mailto:mclow.lists@gmail.com> A.D. 1517: Martin Luther nails his 95 Theses to the church door and is promptly moderated down to (-1, Flamebait). -- Yu Suzuki