passenger 5.1.12 → 5.2.0

data/src/cxx_supportlib/vendor-modified/boost/asio/buffer.hpp

@@ -0,0 +1,2241 @@
+//
+// buffer.hpp
+// ~~~~~~~~~~
+//
+// Copyright (c) 2003-2017 Christopher M. Kohlhoff (chris at kohlhoff dot com)
+//
+// Distributed under the Boost Software License, Version 1.0. (See accompanying
+// file LICENSE_1_0.txt or copy at http://www.boost.org/LICENSE_1_0.txt)
+//
+
+#ifndef BOOST_ASIO_BUFFER_HPP
+#define BOOST_ASIO_BUFFER_HPP
+
+#if defined(_MSC_VER) && (_MSC_VER >= 1200)
+# pragma once
+#endif // defined(_MSC_VER) && (_MSC_VER >= 1200)
+
+#include <boost/asio/detail/config.hpp>
+#include <cstddef>
+#include <cstring>
+#include <string>
+#include <vector>
+#include <boost/asio/detail/array_fwd.hpp>
+
+#if defined(BOOST_ASIO_MSVC)
+# if defined(_HAS_ITERATOR_DEBUGGING) && (_HAS_ITERATOR_DEBUGGING != 0)
+#  if !defined(BOOST_ASIO_DISABLE_BUFFER_DEBUGGING)
+#   define BOOST_ASIO_ENABLE_BUFFER_DEBUGGING
+#  endif // !defined(BOOST_ASIO_DISABLE_BUFFER_DEBUGGING)
+# endif // defined(_HAS_ITERATOR_DEBUGGING)
+#endif // defined(BOOST_ASIO_MSVC)
+
+#if defined(__GNUC__)
+# if defined(_GLIBCXX_DEBUG)
+#  if !defined(BOOST_ASIO_DISABLE_BUFFER_DEBUGGING)
+#   define BOOST_ASIO_ENABLE_BUFFER_DEBUGGING
+#  endif // !defined(BOOST_ASIO_DISABLE_BUFFER_DEBUGGING)
+# endif // defined(_GLIBCXX_DEBUG)
+#endif // defined(__GNUC__)
+
+#if defined(BOOST_ASIO_ENABLE_BUFFER_DEBUGGING)
+# include <boost/asio/detail/function.hpp>
+#endif // BOOST_ASIO_ENABLE_BUFFER_DEBUGGING
+
+#if defined(BOOST_ASIO_HAS_BOOST_WORKAROUND)
+# include <boost/detail/workaround.hpp>
+# if BOOST_WORKAROUND(__BORLANDC__, BOOST_TESTED_AT(0x582)) \
+    || BOOST_WORKAROUND(__SUNPRO_CC, BOOST_TESTED_AT(0x590))
+#  define BOOST_ASIO_ENABLE_ARRAY_BUFFER_WORKAROUND
+# endif // BOOST_WORKAROUND(__BORLANDC__, BOOST_TESTED_AT(0x582))
+        // || BOOST_WORKAROUND(__SUNPRO_CC, BOOST_TESTED_AT(0x590))
+#endif // defined(BOOST_ASIO_HAS_BOOST_WORKAROUND)
+
+#if defined(BOOST_ASIO_ENABLE_ARRAY_BUFFER_WORKAROUND)
+# include <boost/asio/detail/type_traits.hpp>
+#endif // defined(BOOST_ASIO_ENABLE_ARRAY_BUFFER_WORKAROUND)
+
+#include <boost/asio/detail/push_options.hpp>
+
+namespace boost {
+namespace asio {
+
+class mutable_buffer;
+class const_buffer;
+
+namespace detail {
+void* buffer_cast_helper(const mutable_buffer&);
+const void* buffer_cast_helper(const const_buffer&);
+std::size_t buffer_size_helper(const mutable_buffer&);
+std::size_t buffer_size_helper(const const_buffer&);
+} // namespace detail
+
+/// Holds a buffer that can be modified.
+/**
+ * The mutable_buffer class provides a safe representation of a buffer that can
+ * be modified. It does not own the underlying data, and so is cheap to copy or
+ * assign.
+ *
+ * @par Accessing Buffer Contents
+ *
+ * The contents of a buffer may be accessed using the @ref buffer_size
+ * and @ref buffer_cast functions:
+ *
+ * @code boost::asio::mutable_buffer b1 = ...;
+ * std::size_t s1 = boost::asio::buffer_size(b1);
+ * unsigned char* p1 = boost::asio::buffer_cast<unsigned char*>(b1);
+ * @endcode
+ *
+ * The boost::asio::buffer_cast function permits violations of type safety, so
+ * uses of it in application code should be carefully considered.
+ */
+class mutable_buffer
+{
+public:
+  /// Construct an empty buffer.
+  mutable_buffer()
+    : data_(0),
+      size_(0)
+  {
+  }
+
+  /// Construct a buffer to represent a given memory range.
+  mutable_buffer(void* data, std::size_t size)
+    : data_(data),
+      size_(size)
+  {
+  }
+
+#if defined(BOOST_ASIO_ENABLE_BUFFER_DEBUGGING)
+  mutable_buffer(void* data, std::size_t size,
+      boost::asio::detail::function<void()> debug_check)
+    : data_(data),
+      size_(size),
+      debug_check_(debug_check)
+  {
+  }
+
+  const boost::asio::detail::function<void()>& get_debug_check() const
+  {
+    return debug_check_;
+  }
+#endif // BOOST_ASIO_ENABLE_BUFFER_DEBUGGING
+
+private:
+  friend void* boost::asio::detail::buffer_cast_helper(
+      const mutable_buffer& b);
+  friend std::size_t boost::asio::detail::buffer_size_helper(
+      const mutable_buffer& b);
+
+  void* data_;
+  std::size_t size_;
+
+#if defined(BOOST_ASIO_ENABLE_BUFFER_DEBUGGING)
+  boost::asio::detail::function<void()> debug_check_;
+#endif // BOOST_ASIO_ENABLE_BUFFER_DEBUGGING
+};
+
+namespace detail {
+
+inline void* buffer_cast_helper(const mutable_buffer& b)
+{
+#if defined(BOOST_ASIO_ENABLE_BUFFER_DEBUGGING)
+  if (b.size_ && b.debug_check_)
+    b.debug_check_();
+#endif // BOOST_ASIO_ENABLE_BUFFER_DEBUGGING
+  return b.data_;
+}
+
+inline std::size_t buffer_size_helper(const mutable_buffer& b)
+{
+  return b.size_;
+}
+
+} // namespace detail
+
+/// Adapts a single modifiable buffer so that it meets the requirements of the
+/// MutableBufferSequence concept.
+class mutable_buffers_1
+  : public mutable_buffer
+{
+public:
+  /// The type for each element in the list of buffers.
+  typedef mutable_buffer value_type;
+
+  /// A random-access iterator type that may be used to read elements.
+  typedef const mutable_buffer* const_iterator;
+
+  /// Construct to represent a given memory range.
+  mutable_buffers_1(void* data, std::size_t size)
+    : mutable_buffer(data, size)
+  {
+  }
+
+  /// Construct to represent a single modifiable buffer.
+  explicit mutable_buffers_1(const mutable_buffer& b)
+    : mutable_buffer(b)
+  {
+  }
+
+  /// Get a random-access iterator to the first element.
+  const_iterator begin() const
+  {
+    return this;
+  }
+
+  /// Get a random-access iterator for one past the last element.
+  const_iterator end() const
+  {
+    return begin() + 1;
+  }
+};
+
+/// Holds a buffer that cannot be modified.
+/**
+ * The const_buffer class provides a safe representation of a buffer that cannot
+ * be modified. It does not own the underlying data, and so is cheap to copy or
+ * assign.
+ *
+ * @par Accessing Buffer Contents
+ *
+ * The contents of a buffer may be accessed using the @ref buffer_size
+ * and @ref buffer_cast functions:
+ *
+ * @code boost::asio::const_buffer b1 = ...;
+ * std::size_t s1 = boost::asio::buffer_size(b1);
+ * const unsigned char* p1 = boost::asio::buffer_cast<const unsigned char*>(b1);
+ * @endcode
+ *
+ * The boost::asio::buffer_cast function permits violations of type safety, so
+ * uses of it in application code should be carefully considered.
+ */
+class const_buffer
+{
+public:
+  /// Construct an empty buffer.
+  const_buffer()
+    : data_(0),
+      size_(0)
+  {
+  }
+
+  /// Construct a buffer to represent a given memory range.
+  const_buffer(const void* data, std::size_t size)
+    : data_(data),
+      size_(size)
+  {
+  }
+
+  /// Construct a non-modifiable buffer from a modifiable one.
+  const_buffer(const mutable_buffer& b)
+    : data_(boost::asio::detail::buffer_cast_helper(b)),
+      size_(boost::asio::detail::buffer_size_helper(b))
+#if defined(BOOST_ASIO_ENABLE_BUFFER_DEBUGGING)
+      , debug_check_(b.get_debug_check())
+#endif // BOOST_ASIO_ENABLE_BUFFER_DEBUGGING
+  {
+  }
+
+#if defined(BOOST_ASIO_ENABLE_BUFFER_DEBUGGING)
+  const_buffer(const void* data, std::size_t size,
+      boost::asio::detail::function<void()> debug_check)
+    : data_(data),
+      size_(size),
+      debug_check_(debug_check)
+  {
+  }
+
+  const boost::asio::detail::function<void()>& get_debug_check() const
+  {
+    return debug_check_;
+  }
+#endif // BOOST_ASIO_ENABLE_BUFFER_DEBUGGING
+
+private:
+  friend const void* boost::asio::detail::buffer_cast_helper(
+      const const_buffer& b);
+  friend std::size_t boost::asio::detail::buffer_size_helper(
+      const const_buffer& b);
+
+  const void* data_;
+  std::size_t size_;
+
+#if defined(BOOST_ASIO_ENABLE_BUFFER_DEBUGGING)
+  boost::asio::detail::function<void()> debug_check_;
+#endif // BOOST_ASIO_ENABLE_BUFFER_DEBUGGING
+};
+
+namespace detail {
+
+inline const void* buffer_cast_helper(const const_buffer& b)
+{
+#if defined(BOOST_ASIO_ENABLE_BUFFER_DEBUGGING)
+  if (b.size_ && b.debug_check_)
+    b.debug_check_();
+#endif // BOOST_ASIO_ENABLE_BUFFER_DEBUGGING
+  return b.data_;
+}
+
+inline std::size_t buffer_size_helper(const const_buffer& b)
+{
+  return b.size_;
+}
+
+} // namespace detail
+
+/// Adapts a single non-modifiable buffer so that it meets the requirements of
+/// the ConstBufferSequence concept.
+class const_buffers_1
+  : public const_buffer
+{
+public:
+  /// The type for each element in the list of buffers.
+  typedef const_buffer value_type;
+
+  /// A random-access iterator type that may be used to read elements.
+  typedef const const_buffer* const_iterator;
+
+  /// Construct to represent a given memory range.
+  const_buffers_1(const void* data, std::size_t size)
+    : const_buffer(data, size)
+  {
+  }
+
+  /// Construct to represent a single non-modifiable buffer.
+  explicit const_buffers_1(const const_buffer& b)
+    : const_buffer(b)
+  {
+  }
+
+  /// Get a random-access iterator to the first element.
+  const_iterator begin() const
+  {
+    return this;
+  }
+
+  /// Get a random-access iterator for one past the last element.
+  const_iterator end() const
+  {
+    return begin() + 1;
+  }
+};
+
+/// An implementation of both the ConstBufferSequence and MutableBufferSequence
+/// concepts to represent a null buffer sequence.
+class null_buffers
+{
+public:
+  /// The type for each element in the list of buffers.
+  typedef mutable_buffer value_type;
+
+  /// A random-access iterator type that may be used to read elements.
+  typedef const mutable_buffer* const_iterator;
+
+  /// Get a random-access iterator to the first element.
+  const_iterator begin() const
+  {
+    return &buf_;
+  }
+
+  /// Get a random-access iterator for one past the last element.
+  const_iterator end() const
+  {
+    return &buf_;
+  }
+
+private:
+  mutable_buffer buf_;
+};
+
+/** @defgroup buffer_size boost::asio::buffer_size
+ *
+ * @brief The boost::asio::buffer_size function determines the total number of
+ * bytes in a buffer or buffer sequence.
+ */
+/*@{*/
+
+/// Get the number of bytes in a modifiable buffer.
+inline std::size_t buffer_size(const mutable_buffer& b)
+{
+  return detail::buffer_size_helper(b);
+}
+
+/// Get the number of bytes in a modifiable buffer.
+inline std::size_t buffer_size(const mutable_buffers_1& b)
+{
+  return detail::buffer_size_helper(b);
+}
+
+/// Get the number of bytes in a non-modifiable buffer.
+inline std::size_t buffer_size(const const_buffer& b)
+{
+  return detail::buffer_size_helper(b);
+}
+
+/// Get the number of bytes in a non-modifiable buffer.
+inline std::size_t buffer_size(const const_buffers_1& b)
+{
+  return detail::buffer_size_helper(b);
+}
+
+/// Get the total number of bytes in a buffer sequence.
+/** 
+ * The @c BufferSequence template parameter may meet either of the @c
+ * ConstBufferSequence or @c MutableBufferSequence type requirements.
+ */
+template <typename BufferSequence>
+inline std::size_t buffer_size(const BufferSequence& b)
+{
+  std::size_t total_buffer_size = 0;
+
+  typename BufferSequence::const_iterator iter = b.begin();
+  typename BufferSequence::const_iterator end = b.end();
+  for (; iter != end; ++iter)
+    total_buffer_size += detail::buffer_size_helper(*iter);
+
+  return total_buffer_size;
+}
+
+/*@}*/
+
+/** @defgroup buffer_cast boost::asio::buffer_cast
+ *
+ * @brief The boost::asio::buffer_cast function is used to obtain a pointer to
+ * the underlying memory region associated with a buffer.
+ *
+ * @par Examples:
+ *
+ * To access the memory of a non-modifiable buffer, use:
+ * @code boost::asio::const_buffer b1 = ...;
+ * const unsigned char* p1 = boost::asio::buffer_cast<const unsigned char*>(b1);
+ * @endcode
+ *
+ * To access the memory of a modifiable buffer, use:
+ * @code boost::asio::mutable_buffer b2 = ...;
+ * unsigned char* p2 = boost::asio::buffer_cast<unsigned char*>(b2);
+ * @endcode
+ *
+ * The boost::asio::buffer_cast function permits violations of type safety, so
+ * uses of it in application code should be carefully considered.
+ */
+/*@{*/
+
+/// Cast a non-modifiable buffer to a specified pointer to POD type.
+template <typename PointerToPodType>
+inline PointerToPodType buffer_cast(const mutable_buffer& b)
+{
+  return static_cast<PointerToPodType>(detail::buffer_cast_helper(b));
+}
+
+/// Cast a non-modifiable buffer to a specified pointer to POD type.
+template <typename PointerToPodType>
+inline PointerToPodType buffer_cast(const const_buffer& b)
+{
+  return static_cast<PointerToPodType>(detail::buffer_cast_helper(b));
+}
+
+/*@}*/
+
+/// Create a new modifiable buffer that is offset from the start of another.
+/**
+ * @relates mutable_buffer
+ */
+inline mutable_buffer operator+(const mutable_buffer& b, std::size_t start)
+{
+  if (start > buffer_size(b))
+    return mutable_buffer();
+  char* new_data = buffer_cast<char*>(b) + start;
+  std::size_t new_size = buffer_size(b) - start;
+  return mutable_buffer(new_data, new_size
+#if defined(BOOST_ASIO_ENABLE_BUFFER_DEBUGGING)
+      , b.get_debug_check()
+#endif // BOOST_ASIO_ENABLE_BUFFER_DEBUGGING
+      );
+}
+
+/// Create a new modifiable buffer that is offset from the start of another.
+/**
+ * @relates mutable_buffer
+ */
+inline mutable_buffer operator+(std::size_t start, const mutable_buffer& b)
+{
+  if (start > buffer_size(b))
+    return mutable_buffer();
+  char* new_data = buffer_cast<char*>(b) + start;
+  std::size_t new_size = buffer_size(b) - start;
+  return mutable_buffer(new_data, new_size
+#if defined(BOOST_ASIO_ENABLE_BUFFER_DEBUGGING)
+      , b.get_debug_check()
+#endif // BOOST_ASIO_ENABLE_BUFFER_DEBUGGING
+      );
+}
+
+/// Create a new non-modifiable buffer that is offset from the start of another.
+/**
+ * @relates const_buffer
+ */
+inline const_buffer operator+(const const_buffer& b, std::size_t start)
+{
+  if (start > buffer_size(b))
+    return const_buffer();
+  const char* new_data = buffer_cast<const char*>(b) + start;
+  std::size_t new_size = buffer_size(b) - start;
+  return const_buffer(new_data, new_size
+#if defined(BOOST_ASIO_ENABLE_BUFFER_DEBUGGING)
+      , b.get_debug_check()
+#endif // BOOST_ASIO_ENABLE_BUFFER_DEBUGGING
+      );
+}
+
+/// Create a new non-modifiable buffer that is offset from the start of another.
+/**
+ * @relates const_buffer
+ */
+inline const_buffer operator+(std::size_t start, const const_buffer& b)
+{
+  if (start > buffer_size(b))
+    return const_buffer();
+  const char* new_data = buffer_cast<const char*>(b) + start;
+  std::size_t new_size = buffer_size(b) - start;
+  return const_buffer(new_data, new_size
+#if defined(BOOST_ASIO_ENABLE_BUFFER_DEBUGGING)
+      , b.get_debug_check()
+#endif // BOOST_ASIO_ENABLE_BUFFER_DEBUGGING
+      );
+}
+
+#if defined(BOOST_ASIO_ENABLE_BUFFER_DEBUGGING)
+namespace detail {
+
+template <typename Iterator>
+class buffer_debug_check
+{
+public:
+  buffer_debug_check(Iterator iter)
+    : iter_(iter)
+  {
+  }
+
+  ~buffer_debug_check()
+  {
+#if defined(BOOST_ASIO_MSVC) && (BOOST_ASIO_MSVC == 1400)
+    // MSVC 8's string iterator checking may crash in a std::string::iterator
+    // object's destructor when the iterator points to an already-destroyed
+    // std::string object, unless the iterator is cleared first.
+    iter_ = Iterator();
+#endif // defined(BOOST_ASIO_MSVC) && (BOOST_ASIO_MSVC == 1400)
+  }
+
+  void operator()()
+  {
+    *iter_;
+  }
+
+private:
+  Iterator iter_;
+};
+
+} // namespace detail
+#endif // BOOST_ASIO_ENABLE_BUFFER_DEBUGGING
+
+/** @defgroup buffer boost::asio::buffer
+ *
+ * @brief The boost::asio::buffer function is used to create a buffer object to
+ * represent raw memory, an array of POD elements, a vector of POD elements,
+ * or a std::string.
+ *
+ * A buffer object represents a contiguous region of memory as a 2-tuple
+ * consisting of a pointer and size in bytes. A tuple of the form <tt>{void*,
+ * size_t}</tt> specifies a mutable (modifiable) region of memory. Similarly, a
+ * tuple of the form <tt>{const void*, size_t}</tt> specifies a const
+ * (non-modifiable) region of memory. These two forms correspond to the classes
+ * mutable_buffer and const_buffer, respectively. To mirror C++'s conversion
+ * rules, a mutable_buffer is implicitly convertible to a const_buffer, and the
+ * opposite conversion is not permitted.
+ *
+ * The simplest use case involves reading or writing a single buffer of a
+ * specified size:
+ *
+ * @code sock.send(boost::asio::buffer(data, size)); @endcode
+ *
+ * In the above example, the return value of boost::asio::buffer meets the
+ * requirements of the ConstBufferSequence concept so that it may be directly
+ * passed to the socket's write function. A buffer created for modifiable
+ * memory also meets the requirements of the MutableBufferSequence concept.
+ *
+ * An individual buffer may be created from a builtin array, std::vector,
+ * std::array or boost::array of POD elements. This helps prevent buffer
+ * overruns by automatically determining the size of the buffer:
+ *
+ * @code char d1[128];
+ * size_t bytes_transferred = sock.receive(boost::asio::buffer(d1));
+ *
+ * std::vector<char> d2(128);
+ * bytes_transferred = sock.receive(boost::asio::buffer(d2));
+ *
+ * std::array<char, 128> d3;
+ * bytes_transferred = sock.receive(boost::asio::buffer(d3));
+ *
+ * boost::array<char, 128> d4;
+ * bytes_transferred = sock.receive(boost::asio::buffer(d4)); @endcode
+ *
+ * In all three cases above, the buffers created are exactly 128 bytes long.
+ * Note that a vector is @e never automatically resized when creating or using
+ * a buffer. The buffer size is determined using the vector's <tt>size()</tt>
+ * member function, and not its capacity.
+ *
+ * @par Accessing Buffer Contents
+ *
+ * The contents of a buffer may be accessed using the @ref buffer_size and
+ * @ref buffer_cast functions:
+ *
+ * @code boost::asio::mutable_buffer b1 = ...;
+ * std::size_t s1 = boost::asio::buffer_size(b1);
+ * unsigned char* p1 = boost::asio::buffer_cast<unsigned char*>(b1);
+ *
+ * boost::asio::const_buffer b2 = ...;
+ * std::size_t s2 = boost::asio::buffer_size(b2);
+ * const void* p2 = boost::asio::buffer_cast<const void*>(b2); @endcode
+ *
+ * The boost::asio::buffer_cast function permits violations of type safety, so
+ * uses of it in application code should be carefully considered.
+ *
+ * For convenience, the @ref buffer_size function also works on buffer
+ * sequences (that is, types meeting the ConstBufferSequence or
+ * MutableBufferSequence type requirements). In this case, the function returns
+ * the total size of all buffers in the sequence.
+ *
+ * @par Buffer Copying
+ *
+ * The @ref buffer_copy function may be used to copy raw bytes between
+ * individual buffers and buffer sequences.
+ *
+ * In particular, when used with the @ref buffer_size, the @ref buffer_copy
+ * function can be used to linearise a sequence of buffers. For example:
+ *
+ * @code vector<const_buffer> buffers = ...;
+ *
+ * vector<unsigned char> data(boost::asio::buffer_size(buffers));
+ * boost::asio::buffer_copy(boost::asio::buffer(data), buffers); @endcode
+ *
+ * Note that @ref buffer_copy is implemented in terms of @c memcpy, and
+ * consequently it cannot be used to copy between overlapping memory regions.
+ *
+ * @par Buffer Invalidation
+ *
+ * A buffer object does not have any ownership of the memory it refers to. It
+ * is the responsibility of the application to ensure the memory region remains
+ * valid until it is no longer required for an I/O operation. When the memory
+ * is no longer available, the buffer is said to have been invalidated.
+ *
+ * For the boost::asio::buffer overloads that accept an argument of type
+ * std::vector, the buffer objects returned are invalidated by any vector
+ * operation that also invalidates all references, pointers and iterators
+ * referring to the elements in the sequence (C++ Std, 23.2.4)
+ *
+ * For the boost::asio::buffer overloads that accept an argument of type
+ * std::basic_string, the buffer objects returned are invalidated according to
+ * the rules defined for invalidation of references, pointers and iterators
+ * referring to elements of the sequence (C++ Std, 21.3).
+ *
+ * @par Buffer Arithmetic
+ *
+ * Buffer objects may be manipulated using simple arithmetic in a safe way
+ * which helps prevent buffer overruns. Consider an array initialised as
+ * follows:
+ *
+ * @code boost::array<char, 6> a = { 'a', 'b', 'c', 'd', 'e' }; @endcode
+ *
+ * A buffer object @c b1 created using:
+ *
+ * @code b1 = boost::asio::buffer(a); @endcode
+ *
+ * represents the entire array, <tt>{ 'a', 'b', 'c', 'd', 'e' }</tt>. An
+ * optional second argument to the boost::asio::buffer function may be used to
+ * limit the size, in bytes, of the buffer:
+ *
+ * @code b2 = boost::asio::buffer(a, 3); @endcode
+ *
+ * such that @c b2 represents the data <tt>{ 'a', 'b', 'c' }</tt>. Even if the
+ * size argument exceeds the actual size of the array, the size of the buffer
+ * object created will be limited to the array size.
+ *
+ * An offset may be applied to an existing buffer to create a new one:
+ *
+ * @code b3 = b1 + 2; @endcode
+ *
+ * where @c b3 will set to represent <tt>{ 'c', 'd', 'e' }</tt>. If the offset
+ * exceeds the size of the existing buffer, the newly created buffer will be
+ * empty.
+ *
+ * Both an offset and size may be specified to create a buffer that corresponds
+ * to a specific range of bytes within an existing buffer:
+ *
+ * @code b4 = boost::asio::buffer(b1 + 1, 3); @endcode
+ *
+ * so that @c b4 will refer to the bytes <tt>{ 'b', 'c', 'd' }</tt>.
+ *
+ * @par Buffers and Scatter-Gather I/O
+ *
+ * To read or write using multiple buffers (i.e. scatter-gather I/O), multiple
+ * buffer objects may be assigned into a container that supports the
+ * MutableBufferSequence (for read) or ConstBufferSequence (for write) concepts:
+ *
+ * @code
+ * char d1[128];
+ * std::vector<char> d2(128);
+ * boost::array<char, 128> d3;
+ *
+ * boost::array<mutable_buffer, 3> bufs1 = {
+ *   boost::asio::buffer(d1),
+ *   boost::asio::buffer(d2),
+ *   boost::asio::buffer(d3) };
+ * bytes_transferred = sock.receive(bufs1);
+ *
+ * std::vector<const_buffer> bufs2;
+ * bufs2.push_back(boost::asio::buffer(d1));
+ * bufs2.push_back(boost::asio::buffer(d2));
+ * bufs2.push_back(boost::asio::buffer(d3));
+ * bytes_transferred = sock.send(bufs2); @endcode
+ */
+/*@{*/
+
+/// Create a new modifiable buffer from an existing buffer.
+/**
+ * @returns <tt>mutable_buffers_1(b)</tt>.
+ */
+inline mutable_buffers_1 buffer(const mutable_buffer& b)
+{
+  return mutable_buffers_1(b);
+}
+
+/// Create a new modifiable buffer from an existing buffer.
+/**
+ * @returns A mutable_buffers_1 value equivalent to:
+ * @code mutable_buffers_1(
+ *     buffer_cast<void*>(b),
+ *     min(buffer_size(b), max_size_in_bytes)); @endcode
+ */
+inline mutable_buffers_1 buffer(const mutable_buffer& b,
+    std::size_t max_size_in_bytes)
+{
+  return mutable_buffers_1(
+      mutable_buffer(buffer_cast<void*>(b),
+        buffer_size(b) < max_size_in_bytes
+        ? buffer_size(b) : max_size_in_bytes
+#if defined(BOOST_ASIO_ENABLE_BUFFER_DEBUGGING)
+        , b.get_debug_check()
+#endif // BOOST_ASIO_ENABLE_BUFFER_DEBUGGING
+        ));
+}
+
+/// Create a new non-modifiable buffer from an existing buffer.
+/**
+ * @returns <tt>const_buffers_1(b)</tt>.
+ */
+inline const_buffers_1 buffer(const const_buffer& b)
+{
+  return const_buffers_1(b);
+}
+
+/// Create a new non-modifiable buffer from an existing buffer.
+/**
+ * @returns A const_buffers_1 value equivalent to:
+ * @code const_buffers_1(
+ *     buffer_cast<const void*>(b),
+ *     min(buffer_size(b), max_size_in_bytes)); @endcode
+ */
+inline const_buffers_1 buffer(const const_buffer& b,
+    std::size_t max_size_in_bytes)
+{
+  return const_buffers_1(
+      const_buffer(buffer_cast<const void*>(b),
+        buffer_size(b) < max_size_in_bytes
+        ? buffer_size(b) : max_size_in_bytes
+#if defined(BOOST_ASIO_ENABLE_BUFFER_DEBUGGING)
+        , b.get_debug_check()
+#endif // BOOST_ASIO_ENABLE_BUFFER_DEBUGGING
+        ));
+}
+
+/// Create a new modifiable buffer that represents the given memory range.
+/**
+ * @returns <tt>mutable_buffers_1(data, size_in_bytes)</tt>.
+ */
+inline mutable_buffers_1 buffer(void* data, std::size_t size_in_bytes)
+{
+  return mutable_buffers_1(mutable_buffer(data, size_in_bytes));
+}
+
+/// Create a new non-modifiable buffer that represents the given memory range.
+/**
+ * @returns <tt>const_buffers_1(data, size_in_bytes)</tt>.
+ */
+inline const_buffers_1 buffer(const void* data,
+    std::size_t size_in_bytes)
+{
+  return const_buffers_1(const_buffer(data, size_in_bytes));
+}
+
+/// Create a new modifiable buffer that represents the given POD array.
+/**
+ * @returns A mutable_buffers_1 value equivalent to:
+ * @code mutable_buffers_1(
+ *     static_cast<void*>(data),
+ *     N * sizeof(PodType)); @endcode
+ */
+template <typename PodType, std::size_t N>
+inline mutable_buffers_1 buffer(PodType (&data)[N])
+{
+  return mutable_buffers_1(mutable_buffer(data, N * sizeof(PodType)));
+}
+ 
+/// Create a new modifiable buffer that represents the given POD array.
+/**
+ * @returns A mutable_buffers_1 value equivalent to:
+ * @code mutable_buffers_1(
+ *     static_cast<void*>(data),
+ *     min(N * sizeof(PodType), max_size_in_bytes)); @endcode
+ */
+template <typename PodType, std::size_t N>
+inline mutable_buffers_1 buffer(PodType (&data)[N],
+    std::size_t max_size_in_bytes)
+{
+  return mutable_buffers_1(
+      mutable_buffer(data,
+        N * sizeof(PodType) < max_size_in_bytes
+        ? N * sizeof(PodType) : max_size_in_bytes));
+}
+ 
+/// Create a new non-modifiable buffer that represents the given POD array.
+/**
+ * @returns A const_buffers_1 value equivalent to:
+ * @code const_buffers_1(
+ *     static_cast<const void*>(data),
+ *     N * sizeof(PodType)); @endcode
+ */
+template <typename PodType, std::size_t N>
+inline const_buffers_1 buffer(const PodType (&data)[N])
+{
+  return const_buffers_1(const_buffer(data, N * sizeof(PodType)));
+}
+
+/// Create a new non-modifiable buffer that represents the given POD array.
+/**
+ * @returns A const_buffers_1 value equivalent to:
+ * @code const_buffers_1(
+ *     static_cast<const void*>(data),
+ *     min(N * sizeof(PodType), max_size_in_bytes)); @endcode
+ */
+template <typename PodType, std::size_t N>
+inline const_buffers_1 buffer(const PodType (&data)[N],
+    std::size_t max_size_in_bytes)
+{
+  return const_buffers_1(
+      const_buffer(data,
+        N * sizeof(PodType) < max_size_in_bytes
+        ? N * sizeof(PodType) : max_size_in_bytes));
+}
+
+#if defined(BOOST_ASIO_ENABLE_ARRAY_BUFFER_WORKAROUND)
+
+// Borland C++ and Sun Studio think the overloads:
+//
+//   unspecified buffer(boost::array<PodType, N>& array ...);
+//
+// and
+//
+//   unspecified buffer(boost::array<const PodType, N>& array ...);
+//
+// are ambiguous. This will be worked around by using a buffer_types traits
+// class that contains typedefs for the appropriate buffer and container
+// classes, based on whether PodType is const or non-const.
+
+namespace detail {
+
+template <bool IsConst>
+struct buffer_types_base;
+
+template <>
+struct buffer_types_base<false>
+{
+  typedef mutable_buffer buffer_type;
+  typedef mutable_buffers_1 container_type;
+};
+
+template <>
+struct buffer_types_base<true>
+{
+  typedef const_buffer buffer_type;
+  typedef const_buffers_1 container_type;
+};
+
+template <typename PodType>
+struct buffer_types
+  : public buffer_types_base<is_const<PodType>::value>
+{
+};
+
+} // namespace detail
+
+template <typename PodType, std::size_t N>
+inline typename detail::buffer_types<PodType>::container_type
+buffer(boost::array<PodType, N>& data)
+{
+  typedef typename boost::asio::detail::buffer_types<PodType>::buffer_type
+    buffer_type;
+  typedef typename boost::asio::detail::buffer_types<PodType>::container_type
+    container_type;
+  return container_type(
+      buffer_type(data.c_array(), data.size() * sizeof(PodType)));
+}
+
+template <typename PodType, std::size_t N>
+inline typename detail::buffer_types<PodType>::container_type
+buffer(boost::array<PodType, N>& data, std::size_t max_size_in_bytes)
+{
+  typedef typename boost::asio::detail::buffer_types<PodType>::buffer_type
+    buffer_type;
+  typedef typename boost::asio::detail::buffer_types<PodType>::container_type
+    container_type;
+  return container_type(
+      buffer_type(data.c_array(),
+        data.size() * sizeof(PodType) < max_size_in_bytes
+        ? data.size() * sizeof(PodType) : max_size_in_bytes));
+}
+
+#else // defined(BOOST_ASIO_ENABLE_ARRAY_BUFFER_WORKAROUND)
+
+/// Create a new modifiable buffer that represents the given POD array.
+/**
+ * @returns A mutable_buffers_1 value equivalent to:
+ * @code mutable_buffers_1(
+ *     data.data(),
+ *     data.size() * sizeof(PodType)); @endcode
+ */
+template <typename PodType, std::size_t N>
+inline mutable_buffers_1 buffer(boost::array<PodType, N>& data)
+{
+  return mutable_buffers_1(
+      mutable_buffer(data.c_array(), data.size() * sizeof(PodType)));
+}
+
+/// Create a new modifiable buffer that represents the given POD array.
+/**
+ * @returns A mutable_buffers_1 value equivalent to:
+ * @code mutable_buffers_1(
+ *     data.data(),
+ *     min(data.size() * sizeof(PodType), max_size_in_bytes)); @endcode
+ */
+template <typename PodType, std::size_t N>
+inline mutable_buffers_1 buffer(boost::array<PodType, N>& data,
+    std::size_t max_size_in_bytes)
+{
+  return mutable_buffers_1(
+      mutable_buffer(data.c_array(),
+        data.size() * sizeof(PodType) < max_size_in_bytes
+        ? data.size() * sizeof(PodType) : max_size_in_bytes));
+}
+
+/// Create a new non-modifiable buffer that represents the given POD array.
+/**
+ * @returns A const_buffers_1 value equivalent to:
+ * @code const_buffers_1(
+ *     data.data(),
+ *     data.size() * sizeof(PodType)); @endcode
+ */
+template <typename PodType, std::size_t N>
+inline const_buffers_1 buffer(boost::array<const PodType, N>& data)
+{
+  return const_buffers_1(
+      const_buffer(data.data(), data.size() * sizeof(PodType)));
+}
+
+/// Create a new non-modifiable buffer that represents the given POD array.
+/**
+ * @returns A const_buffers_1 value equivalent to:
+ * @code const_buffers_1(
+ *     data.data(),
+ *     min(data.size() * sizeof(PodType), max_size_in_bytes)); @endcode
+ */
+template <typename PodType, std::size_t N>
+inline const_buffers_1 buffer(boost::array<const PodType, N>& data,
+    std::size_t max_size_in_bytes)
+{
+  return const_buffers_1(
+      const_buffer(data.data(),
+        data.size() * sizeof(PodType) < max_size_in_bytes
+        ? data.size() * sizeof(PodType) : max_size_in_bytes));
+}
+
+#endif // defined(BOOST_ASIO_ENABLE_ARRAY_BUFFER_WORKAROUND)
+
+/// Create a new non-modifiable buffer that represents the given POD array.
+/**
+ * @returns A const_buffers_1 value equivalent to:
+ * @code const_buffers_1(
+ *     data.data(),
+ *     data.size() * sizeof(PodType)); @endcode
+ */
+template <typename PodType, std::size_t N>
+inline const_buffers_1 buffer(const boost::array<PodType, N>& data)
+{
+  return const_buffers_1(
+      const_buffer(data.data(), data.size() * sizeof(PodType)));
+}
+
+/// Create a new non-modifiable buffer that represents the given POD array.
+/**
+ * @returns A const_buffers_1 value equivalent to:
+ * @code const_buffers_1(
+ *     data.data(),
+ *     min(data.size() * sizeof(PodType), max_size_in_bytes)); @endcode
+ */
+template <typename PodType, std::size_t N>
+inline const_buffers_1 buffer(const boost::array<PodType, N>& data,
+    std::size_t max_size_in_bytes)
+{
+  return const_buffers_1(
+      const_buffer(data.data(),
+        data.size() * sizeof(PodType) < max_size_in_bytes
+        ? data.size() * sizeof(PodType) : max_size_in_bytes));
+}
+
+#if defined(BOOST_ASIO_HAS_STD_ARRAY) || defined(GENERATING_DOCUMENTATION)
+
+/// Create a new modifiable buffer that represents the given POD array.
+/**
+ * @returns A mutable_buffers_1 value equivalent to:
+ * @code mutable_buffers_1(
+ *     data.data(),
+ *     data.size() * sizeof(PodType)); @endcode
+ */
+template <typename PodType, std::size_t N>
+inline mutable_buffers_1 buffer(std::array<PodType, N>& data)
+{
+  return mutable_buffers_1(
+      mutable_buffer(data.data(), data.size() * sizeof(PodType)));
+}
+
+/// Create a new modifiable buffer that represents the given POD array.
+/**
+ * @returns A mutable_buffers_1 value equivalent to:
+ * @code mutable_buffers_1(
+ *     data.data(),
+ *     min(data.size() * sizeof(PodType), max_size_in_bytes)); @endcode
+ */
+template <typename PodType, std::size_t N>
+inline mutable_buffers_1 buffer(std::array<PodType, N>& data,
+    std::size_t max_size_in_bytes)
+{
+  return mutable_buffers_1(
+      mutable_buffer(data.data(),
+        data.size() * sizeof(PodType) < max_size_in_bytes
+        ? data.size() * sizeof(PodType) : max_size_in_bytes));
+}
+
+/// Create a new non-modifiable buffer that represents the given POD array.
+/**
+ * @returns A const_buffers_1 value equivalent to:
+ * @code const_buffers_1(
+ *     data.data(),
+ *     data.size() * sizeof(PodType)); @endcode
+ */
+template <typename PodType, std::size_t N>
+inline const_buffers_1 buffer(std::array<const PodType, N>& data)
+{
+  return const_buffers_1(
+      const_buffer(data.data(), data.size() * sizeof(PodType)));
+}
+
+/// Create a new non-modifiable buffer that represents the given POD array.
+/**
+ * @returns A const_buffers_1 value equivalent to:
+ * @code const_buffers_1(
+ *     data.data(),
+ *     min(data.size() * sizeof(PodType), max_size_in_bytes)); @endcode
+ */
+template <typename PodType, std::size_t N>
+inline const_buffers_1 buffer(std::array<const PodType, N>& data,
+    std::size_t max_size_in_bytes)
+{
+  return const_buffers_1(
+      const_buffer(data.data(),
+        data.size() * sizeof(PodType) < max_size_in_bytes
+        ? data.size() * sizeof(PodType) : max_size_in_bytes));
+}
+
+/// Create a new non-modifiable buffer that represents the given POD array.
+/**
+ * @returns A const_buffers_1 value equivalent to:
+ * @code const_buffers_1(
+ *     data.data(),
+ *     data.size() * sizeof(PodType)); @endcode
+ */
+template <typename PodType, std::size_t N>
+inline const_buffers_1 buffer(const std::array<PodType, N>& data)
+{
+  return const_buffers_1(
+      const_buffer(data.data(), data.size() * sizeof(PodType)));
+}
+
+/// Create a new non-modifiable buffer that represents the given POD array.
+/**
+ * @returns A const_buffers_1 value equivalent to:
+ * @code const_buffers_1(
+ *     data.data(),
+ *     min(data.size() * sizeof(PodType), max_size_in_bytes)); @endcode
+ */
+template <typename PodType, std::size_t N>
+inline const_buffers_1 buffer(const std::array<PodType, N>& data,
+    std::size_t max_size_in_bytes)
+{
+  return const_buffers_1(
+      const_buffer(data.data(),
+        data.size() * sizeof(PodType) < max_size_in_bytes
+        ? data.size() * sizeof(PodType) : max_size_in_bytes));
+}
+
+#endif // defined(BOOST_ASIO_HAS_STD_ARRAY) || defined(GENERATING_DOCUMENTATION)
+
+/// Create a new modifiable buffer that represents the given POD vector.
+/**
+ * @returns A mutable_buffers_1 value equivalent to:
+ * @code mutable_buffers_1(
+ *     data.size() ? &data[0] : 0,
+ *     data.size() * sizeof(PodType)); @endcode
+ *
+ * @note The buffer is invalidated by any vector operation that would also
+ * invalidate iterators.
+ */
+template <typename PodType, typename Allocator>
+inline mutable_buffers_1 buffer(std::vector<PodType, Allocator>& data)
+{
+  return mutable_buffers_1(
+      mutable_buffer(data.size() ? &data[0] : 0, data.size() * sizeof(PodType)
+#if defined(BOOST_ASIO_ENABLE_BUFFER_DEBUGGING)
+        , detail::buffer_debug_check<
+            typename std::vector<PodType, Allocator>::iterator
+          >(data.begin())
+#endif // BOOST_ASIO_ENABLE_BUFFER_DEBUGGING
+        ));
+}
+
+/// Create a new modifiable buffer that represents the given POD vector.
+/**
+ * @returns A mutable_buffers_1 value equivalent to:
+ * @code mutable_buffers_1(
+ *     data.size() ? &data[0] : 0,
+ *     min(data.size() * sizeof(PodType), max_size_in_bytes)); @endcode
+ *
+ * @note The buffer is invalidated by any vector operation that would also
+ * invalidate iterators.
+ */
+template <typename PodType, typename Allocator>
+inline mutable_buffers_1 buffer(std::vector<PodType, Allocator>& data,
+    std::size_t max_size_in_bytes)
+{
+  return mutable_buffers_1(
+      mutable_buffer(data.size() ? &data[0] : 0,
+        data.size() * sizeof(PodType) < max_size_in_bytes
+        ? data.size() * sizeof(PodType) : max_size_in_bytes
+#if defined(BOOST_ASIO_ENABLE_BUFFER_DEBUGGING)
+        , detail::buffer_debug_check<
+            typename std::vector<PodType, Allocator>::iterator
+          >(data.begin())
+#endif // BOOST_ASIO_ENABLE_BUFFER_DEBUGGING
+        ));
+}
+
+/// Create a new non-modifiable buffer that represents the given POD vector.
+/**
+ * @returns A const_buffers_1 value equivalent to:
+ * @code const_buffers_1(
+ *     data.size() ? &data[0] : 0,
+ *     data.size() * sizeof(PodType)); @endcode
+ *
+ * @note The buffer is invalidated by any vector operation that would also
+ * invalidate iterators.
+ */
+template <typename PodType, typename Allocator>
+inline const_buffers_1 buffer(
+    const std::vector<PodType, Allocator>& data)
+{
+  return const_buffers_1(
+      const_buffer(data.size() ? &data[0] : 0, data.size() * sizeof(PodType)
+#if defined(BOOST_ASIO_ENABLE_BUFFER_DEBUGGING)
+        , detail::buffer_debug_check<
+            typename std::vector<PodType, Allocator>::const_iterator
+          >(data.begin())
+#endif // BOOST_ASIO_ENABLE_BUFFER_DEBUGGING
+        ));
+}
+
+/// Create a new non-modifiable buffer that represents the given POD vector.
+/**
+ * @returns A const_buffers_1 value equivalent to:
+ * @code const_buffers_1(
+ *     data.size() ? &data[0] : 0,
+ *     min(data.size() * sizeof(PodType), max_size_in_bytes)); @endcode
+ *
+ * @note The buffer is invalidated by any vector operation that would also
+ * invalidate iterators.
+ */
+template <typename PodType, typename Allocator>
+inline const_buffers_1 buffer(
+    const std::vector<PodType, Allocator>& data, std::size_t max_size_in_bytes)
+{
+  return const_buffers_1(
+      const_buffer(data.size() ? &data[0] : 0,
+        data.size() * sizeof(PodType) < max_size_in_bytes
+        ? data.size() * sizeof(PodType) : max_size_in_bytes
+#if defined(BOOST_ASIO_ENABLE_BUFFER_DEBUGGING)
+        , detail::buffer_debug_check<
+            typename std::vector<PodType, Allocator>::const_iterator
+          >(data.begin())
+#endif // BOOST_ASIO_ENABLE_BUFFER_DEBUGGING
+        ));
+}
+
+/// Create a new non-modifiable buffer that represents the given string.
+/**
+ * @returns <tt>const_buffers_1(data.data(), data.size() * sizeof(Elem))</tt>.
+ *
+ * @note The buffer is invalidated by any non-const operation called on the
+ * given string object.
+ */
+template <typename Elem, typename Traits, typename Allocator>
+inline const_buffers_1 buffer(
+    const std::basic_string<Elem, Traits, Allocator>& data)
+{
+  return const_buffers_1(const_buffer(data.data(), data.size() * sizeof(Elem)
+#if defined(BOOST_ASIO_ENABLE_BUFFER_DEBUGGING)
+        , detail::buffer_debug_check<
+            typename std::basic_string<Elem, Traits, Allocator>::const_iterator
+          >(data.begin())
+#endif // BOOST_ASIO_ENABLE_BUFFER_DEBUGGING
+        ));
+}
+
+/// Create a new non-modifiable buffer that represents the given string.
+/**
+ * @returns A const_buffers_1 value equivalent to:
+ * @code const_buffers_1(
+ *     data.data(),
+ *     min(data.size() * sizeof(Elem), max_size_in_bytes)); @endcode
+ *
+ * @note The buffer is invalidated by any non-const operation called on the
+ * given string object.
+ */
+template <typename Elem, typename Traits, typename Allocator>
+inline const_buffers_1 buffer(
+    const std::basic_string<Elem, Traits, Allocator>& data,
+    std::size_t max_size_in_bytes)
+{
+  return const_buffers_1(
+      const_buffer(data.data(),
+        data.size() * sizeof(Elem) < max_size_in_bytes
+        ? data.size() * sizeof(Elem) : max_size_in_bytes
+#if defined(BOOST_ASIO_ENABLE_BUFFER_DEBUGGING)
+        , detail::buffer_debug_check<
+            typename std::basic_string<Elem, Traits, Allocator>::const_iterator
+          >(data.begin())
+#endif // BOOST_ASIO_ENABLE_BUFFER_DEBUGGING
+        ));
+}
+
+/*@}*/
+
+/** @defgroup buffer_copy boost::asio::buffer_copy
+ *
+ * @brief The boost::asio::buffer_copy function is used to copy bytes from a
+ * source buffer (or buffer sequence) to a target buffer (or buffer sequence).
+ *
+ * The @c buffer_copy function is available in two forms:
+ *
+ * @li A 2-argument form: @c buffer_copy(target, source)
+ *
+ * @li A 3-argument form: @c buffer_copy(target, source, max_bytes_to_copy)
+
+ * Both forms return the number of bytes actually copied. The number of bytes
+ * copied is the lesser of:
+ *
+ * @li @c buffer_size(target)
+ *
+ * @li @c buffer_size(source)
+ *
+ * @li @c If specified, @c max_bytes_to_copy.
+ *
+ * This prevents buffer overflow, regardless of the buffer sizes used in the
+ * copy operation.
+ *
+ * Note that @ref buffer_copy is implemented in terms of @c memcpy, and
+ * consequently it cannot be used to copy between overlapping memory regions.
+ */
+/*@{*/
+
+/// Copies bytes from a source buffer to a target buffer.
+/**
+ * @param target A modifiable buffer representing the memory region to which
+ * the bytes will be copied.
+ *
+ * @param source A non-modifiable buffer representing the memory region from
+ * which the bytes will be copied.
+ *
+ * @returns The number of bytes copied.
+ *
+ * @note The number of bytes copied is the lesser of:
+ *
+ * @li @c buffer_size(target)
+ *
+ * @li @c buffer_size(source)
+ *
+ * This function is implemented in terms of @c memcpy, and consequently it
+ * cannot be used to copy between overlapping memory regions.
+ */
+inline std::size_t buffer_copy(const mutable_buffer& target,
+    const const_buffer& source)
+{
+  using namespace std; // For memcpy.
+  std::size_t target_size = buffer_size(target);
+  std::size_t source_size = buffer_size(source);
+  std::size_t n = target_size < source_size ? target_size : source_size;
+  memcpy(buffer_cast<void*>(target), buffer_cast<const void*>(source), n);
+  return n;
+}
+
+/// Copies bytes from a source buffer to a target buffer.
+/**
+ * @param target A modifiable buffer representing the memory region to which
+ * the bytes will be copied.
+ *
+ * @param source A non-modifiable buffer representing the memory region from
+ * which the bytes will be copied.
+ *
+ * @returns The number of bytes copied.
+ *
+ * @note The number of bytes copied is the lesser of:
+ *
+ * @li @c buffer_size(target)
+ *
+ * @li @c buffer_size(source)
+ *
+ * This function is implemented in terms of @c memcpy, and consequently it
+ * cannot be used to copy between overlapping memory regions.
+ */
+inline std::size_t buffer_copy(const mutable_buffer& target,
+    const const_buffers_1& source)
+{
+  return buffer_copy(target, static_cast<const const_buffer&>(source));
+}
+
+/// Copies bytes from a source buffer to a target buffer.
+/**
+ * @param target A modifiable buffer representing the memory region to which
+ * the bytes will be copied.
+ *
+ * @param source A modifiable buffer representing the memory region from which
+ * the bytes will be copied. The contents of the source buffer will not be
+ * modified.
+ *
+ * @returns The number of bytes copied.
+ *
+ * @note The number of bytes copied is the lesser of:
+ *
+ * @li @c buffer_size(target)
+ *
+ * @li @c buffer_size(source)
+ *
+ * This function is implemented in terms of @c memcpy, and consequently it
+ * cannot be used to copy between overlapping memory regions.
+ */
+inline std::size_t buffer_copy(const mutable_buffer& target,
+    const mutable_buffer& source)
+{
+  return buffer_copy(target, const_buffer(source));
+}
+
+/// Copies bytes from a source buffer to a target buffer.
+/**
+ * @param target A modifiable buffer representing the memory region to which
+ * the bytes will be copied.
+ *
+ * @param source A modifiable buffer representing the memory region from which
+ * the bytes will be copied. The contents of the source buffer will not be
+ * modified.
+ *
+ * @returns The number of bytes copied.
+ *
+ * @note The number of bytes copied is the lesser of:
+ *
+ * @li @c buffer_size(target)
+ *
+ * @li @c buffer_size(source)
+ *
+ * This function is implemented in terms of @c memcpy, and consequently it
+ * cannot be used to copy between overlapping memory regions.
+ */
+inline std::size_t buffer_copy(const mutable_buffer& target,
+    const mutable_buffers_1& source)
+{
+  return buffer_copy(target, const_buffer(source));
+}
+
+/// Copies bytes from a source buffer sequence to a target buffer.
+/**
+ * @param target A modifiable buffer representing the memory region to which
+ * the bytes will be copied.
+ *
+ * @param source A non-modifiable buffer sequence representing the memory
+ * regions from which the bytes will be copied.
+ *
+ * @returns The number of bytes copied.
+ *
+ * @note The number of bytes copied is the lesser of:
+ *
+ * @li @c buffer_size(target)
+ *
+ * @li @c buffer_size(source)
+ *
+ * This function is implemented in terms of @c memcpy, and consequently it
+ * cannot be used to copy between overlapping memory regions.
+ */
+template <typename ConstBufferSequence>
+std::size_t buffer_copy(const mutable_buffer& target,
+    const ConstBufferSequence& source)
+{
+  std::size_t total_bytes_copied = 0;
+
+  typename ConstBufferSequence::const_iterator source_iter = source.begin();
+  typename ConstBufferSequence::const_iterator source_end = source.end();
+
+  for (mutable_buffer target_buffer(target);
+      buffer_size(target_buffer) && source_iter != source_end; ++source_iter)
+  {
+    const_buffer source_buffer(*source_iter);
+    std::size_t bytes_copied = buffer_copy(target_buffer, source_buffer);
+    total_bytes_copied += bytes_copied;
+    target_buffer = target_buffer + bytes_copied;
+  }
+
+  return total_bytes_copied;
+}
+
+/// Copies bytes from a source buffer to a target buffer.
+/**
+ * @param target A modifiable buffer representing the memory region to which
+ * the bytes will be copied.
+ *
+ * @param source A non-modifiable buffer representing the memory region from
+ * which the bytes will be copied.
+ *
+ * @returns The number of bytes copied.
+ *
+ * @note The number of bytes copied is the lesser of:
+ *
+ * @li @c buffer_size(target)
+ *
+ * @li @c buffer_size(source)
+ *
+ * This function is implemented in terms of @c memcpy, and consequently it
+ * cannot be used to copy between overlapping memory regions.
+ */
+inline std::size_t buffer_copy(const mutable_buffers_1& target,
+    const const_buffer& source)
+{
+  return buffer_copy(static_cast<const mutable_buffer&>(target), source);
+}
+
+/// Copies bytes from a source buffer to a target buffer.
+/**
+ * @param target A modifiable buffer representing the memory region to which
+ * the bytes will be copied.
+ *
+ * @param source A non-modifiable buffer representing the memory region from
+ * which the bytes will be copied.
+ *
+ * @returns The number of bytes copied.
+ *
+ * @note The number of bytes copied is the lesser of:
+ *
+ * @li @c buffer_size(target)
+ *
+ * @li @c buffer_size(source)
+ *
+ * This function is implemented in terms of @c memcpy, and consequently it
+ * cannot be used to copy between overlapping memory regions.
+ */
+inline std::size_t buffer_copy(const mutable_buffers_1& target,
+    const const_buffers_1& source)
+{
+  return buffer_copy(static_cast<const mutable_buffer&>(target),
+      static_cast<const const_buffer&>(source));
+}
+
+/// Copies bytes from a source buffer to a target buffer.
+/**
+ * @param target A modifiable buffer representing the memory region to which
+ * the bytes will be copied.
+ *
+ * @param source A modifiable buffer representing the memory region from which
+ * the bytes will be copied. The contents of the source buffer will not be
+ * modified.
+ *
+ * @returns The number of bytes copied.
+ *
+ * @note The number of bytes copied is the lesser of:
+ *
+ * @li @c buffer_size(target)
+ *
+ * @li @c buffer_size(source)
+ *
+ * This function is implemented in terms of @c memcpy, and consequently it
+ * cannot be used to copy between overlapping memory regions.
+ */
+inline std::size_t buffer_copy(const mutable_buffers_1& target,
+    const mutable_buffer& source)
+{
+  return buffer_copy(static_cast<const mutable_buffer&>(target),
+      const_buffer(source));
+}
+
+/// Copies bytes from a source buffer to a target buffer.
+/**
+ * @param target A modifiable buffer representing the memory region to which
+ * the bytes will be copied.
+ *
+ * @param source A modifiable buffer representing the memory region from which
+ * the bytes will be copied. The contents of the source buffer will not be
+ * modified.
+ *
+ * @returns The number of bytes copied.
+ *
+ * @note The number of bytes copied is the lesser of:
+ *
+ * @li @c buffer_size(target)
+ *
+ * @li @c buffer_size(source)
+ *
+ * This function is implemented in terms of @c memcpy, and consequently it
+ * cannot be used to copy between overlapping memory regions.
+ */
+inline std::size_t buffer_copy(const mutable_buffers_1& target,
+    const mutable_buffers_1& source)
+{
+  return buffer_copy(static_cast<const mutable_buffer&>(target),
+      const_buffer(source));
+}
+
+/// Copies bytes from a source buffer sequence to a target buffer.
+/**
+ * @param target A modifiable buffer representing the memory region to which
+ * the bytes will be copied.
+ *
+ * @param source A non-modifiable buffer sequence representing the memory
+ * regions from which the bytes will be copied.
+ *
+ * @returns The number of bytes copied.
+ *
+ * @note The number of bytes copied is the lesser of:
+ *
+ * @li @c buffer_size(target)
+ *
+ * @li @c buffer_size(source)
+ *
+ * This function is implemented in terms of @c memcpy, and consequently it
+ * cannot be used to copy between overlapping memory regions.
+ */
+template <typename ConstBufferSequence>
+inline std::size_t buffer_copy(const mutable_buffers_1& target,
+    const ConstBufferSequence& source)
+{
+  return buffer_copy(static_cast<const mutable_buffer&>(target), source);
+}
+
+/// Copies bytes from a source buffer to a target buffer sequence.
+/**
+ * @param target A modifiable buffer sequence representing the memory regions to
+ * which the bytes will be copied.
+ *
+ * @param source A non-modifiable buffer representing the memory region from
+ * which the bytes will be copied.
+ *
+ * @returns The number of bytes copied.
+ *
+ * @note The number of bytes copied is the lesser of:
+ *
+ * @li @c buffer_size(target)
+ *
+ * @li @c buffer_size(source)
+ *
+ * This function is implemented in terms of @c memcpy, and consequently it
+ * cannot be used to copy between overlapping memory regions.
+ */
+template <typename MutableBufferSequence>
+std::size_t buffer_copy(const MutableBufferSequence& target,
+    const const_buffer& source)
+{
+  std::size_t total_bytes_copied = 0;
+
+  typename MutableBufferSequence::const_iterator target_iter = target.begin();
+  typename MutableBufferSequence::const_iterator target_end = target.end();
+
+  for (const_buffer source_buffer(source);
+      buffer_size(source_buffer) && target_iter != target_end; ++target_iter)
+  {
+    mutable_buffer target_buffer(*target_iter);
+    std::size_t bytes_copied = buffer_copy(target_buffer, source_buffer);
+    total_bytes_copied += bytes_copied;
+    source_buffer = source_buffer + bytes_copied;
+  }
+
+  return total_bytes_copied;
+}
+
+/// Copies bytes from a source buffer to a target buffer sequence.
+/**
+ * @param target A modifiable buffer sequence representing the memory regions to
+ * which the bytes will be copied.
+ *
+ * @param source A non-modifiable buffer representing the memory region from
+ * which the bytes will be copied.
+ *
+ * @returns The number of bytes copied.
+ *
+ * @note The number of bytes copied is the lesser of:
+ *
+ * @li @c buffer_size(target)
+ *
+ * @li @c buffer_size(source)
+ *
+ * This function is implemented in terms of @c memcpy, and consequently it
+ * cannot be used to copy between overlapping memory regions.
+ */
+template <typename MutableBufferSequence>
+inline std::size_t buffer_copy(const MutableBufferSequence& target,
+    const const_buffers_1& source)
+{
+  return buffer_copy(target, static_cast<const const_buffer&>(source));
+}
+
+/// Copies bytes from a source buffer to a target buffer sequence.
+/**
+ * @param target A modifiable buffer sequence representing the memory regions to
+ * which the bytes will be copied.
+ *
+ * @param source A modifiable buffer representing the memory region from which
+ * the bytes will be copied. The contents of the source buffer will not be
+ * modified.
+ *
+ * @returns The number of bytes copied.
+ *
+ * @note The number of bytes copied is the lesser of:
+ *
+ * @li @c buffer_size(target)
+ *
+ * @li @c buffer_size(source)
+ *
+ * This function is implemented in terms of @c memcpy, and consequently it
+ * cannot be used to copy between overlapping memory regions.
+ */
+template <typename MutableBufferSequence>
+inline std::size_t buffer_copy(const MutableBufferSequence& target,
+    const mutable_buffer& source)
+{
+  return buffer_copy(target, const_buffer(source));
+}
+
+/// Copies bytes from a source buffer to a target buffer sequence.
+/**
+ * @param target A modifiable buffer sequence representing the memory regions to
+ * which the bytes will be copied.
+ *
+ * @param source A modifiable buffer representing the memory region from which
+ * the bytes will be copied. The contents of the source buffer will not be
+ * modified.
+ *
+ * @returns The number of bytes copied.
+ *
+ * @note The number of bytes copied is the lesser of:
+ *
+ * @li @c buffer_size(target)
+ *
+ * @li @c buffer_size(source)
+ *
+ * This function is implemented in terms of @c memcpy, and consequently it
+ * cannot be used to copy between overlapping memory regions.
+ */
+template <typename MutableBufferSequence>
+inline std::size_t buffer_copy(const MutableBufferSequence& target,
+    const mutable_buffers_1& source)
+{
+  return buffer_copy(target, const_buffer(source));
+}
+
+/// Copies bytes from a source buffer sequence to a target buffer sequence.
+/**
+ * @param target A modifiable buffer sequence representing the memory regions to
+ * which the bytes will be copied.
+ *
+ * @param source A non-modifiable buffer sequence representing the memory
+ * regions from which the bytes will be copied.
+ *
+ * @returns The number of bytes copied.
+ *
+ * @note The number of bytes copied is the lesser of:
+ *
+ * @li @c buffer_size(target)
+ *
+ * @li @c buffer_size(source)
+ *
+ * This function is implemented in terms of @c memcpy, and consequently it
+ * cannot be used to copy between overlapping memory regions.
+ */
+template <typename MutableBufferSequence, typename ConstBufferSequence>
+std::size_t buffer_copy(const MutableBufferSequence& target,
+    const ConstBufferSequence& source)
+{
+  std::size_t total_bytes_copied = 0;
+
+  typename MutableBufferSequence::const_iterator target_iter = target.begin();
+  typename MutableBufferSequence::const_iterator target_end = target.end();
+  std::size_t target_buffer_offset = 0;
+
+  typename ConstBufferSequence::const_iterator source_iter = source.begin();
+  typename ConstBufferSequence::const_iterator source_end = source.end();
+  std::size_t source_buffer_offset = 0;
+
+  while (target_iter != target_end && source_iter != source_end)
+  {
+    mutable_buffer target_buffer =
+      mutable_buffer(*target_iter) + target_buffer_offset;
+
+    const_buffer source_buffer =
+      const_buffer(*source_iter) + source_buffer_offset;
+
+    std::size_t bytes_copied = buffer_copy(target_buffer, source_buffer);
+    total_bytes_copied += bytes_copied;
+
+    if (bytes_copied == buffer_size(target_buffer))
+    {
+      ++target_iter;
+      target_buffer_offset = 0;
+    }
+    else
+      target_buffer_offset += bytes_copied;
+
+    if (bytes_copied == buffer_size(source_buffer))
+    {
+      ++source_iter;
+      source_buffer_offset = 0;
+    }
+    else
+      source_buffer_offset += bytes_copied;
+  }
+
+  return total_bytes_copied;
+}
+
+/// Copies a limited number of bytes from a source buffer to a target buffer.
+/**
+ * @param target A modifiable buffer representing the memory region to which
+ * the bytes will be copied.
+ *
+ * @param source A non-modifiable buffer representing the memory region from
+ * which the bytes will be copied.
+ *
+ * @param max_bytes_to_copy The maximum number of bytes to be copied.
+ *
+ * @returns The number of bytes copied.
+ *
+ * @note The number of bytes copied is the lesser of:
+ *
+ * @li @c buffer_size(target)
+ *
+ * @li @c buffer_size(source)
+ *
+ * @li @c max_bytes_to_copy
+ *
+ * This function is implemented in terms of @c memcpy, and consequently it
+ * cannot be used to copy between overlapping memory regions.
+ */
+inline std::size_t buffer_copy(const mutable_buffer& target,
+    const const_buffer& source, std::size_t max_bytes_to_copy)
+{
+  return buffer_copy(buffer(target, max_bytes_to_copy), source);
+}
+
+/// Copies a limited number of bytes from a source buffer to a target buffer.
+/**
+ * @param target A modifiable buffer representing the memory region to which
+ * the bytes will be copied.
+ *
+ * @param source A non-modifiable buffer representing the memory region from
+ * which the bytes will be copied.
+ *
+ * @param max_bytes_to_copy The maximum number of bytes to be copied.
+ *
+ * @returns The number of bytes copied.
+ *
+ * @note The number of bytes copied is the lesser of:
+ *
+ * @li @c buffer_size(target)
+ *
+ * @li @c buffer_size(source)
+ *
+ * @li @c max_bytes_to_copy
+ *
+ * This function is implemented in terms of @c memcpy, and consequently it
+ * cannot be used to copy between overlapping memory regions.
+ */
+inline std::size_t buffer_copy(const mutable_buffer& target,
+    const const_buffers_1& source, std::size_t max_bytes_to_copy)
+{
+  return buffer_copy(buffer(target, max_bytes_to_copy), source);
+}
+
+/// Copies a limited number of bytes from a source buffer to a target buffer.
+/**
+ * @param target A modifiable buffer representing the memory region to which
+ * the bytes will be copied.
+ *
+ * @param source A modifiable buffer representing the memory region from which
+ * the bytes will be copied. The contents of the source buffer will not be
+ * modified.
+ *
+ * @param max_bytes_to_copy The maximum number of bytes to be copied.
+ *
+ * @returns The number of bytes copied.
+ *
+ * @note The number of bytes copied is the lesser of:
+ *
+ * @li @c buffer_size(target)
+ *
+ * @li @c buffer_size(source)
+ *
+ * @li @c max_bytes_to_copy
+ *
+ * This function is implemented in terms of @c memcpy, and consequently it
+ * cannot be used to copy between overlapping memory regions.
+ */
+inline std::size_t buffer_copy(const mutable_buffer& target,
+    const mutable_buffer& source, std::size_t max_bytes_to_copy)
+{
+  return buffer_copy(buffer(target, max_bytes_to_copy), source);
+}
+
+/// Copies a limited number of bytes from a source buffer to a target buffer.
+/**
+ * @param target A modifiable buffer representing the memory region to which
+ * the bytes will be copied.
+ *
+ * @param source A modifiable buffer representing the memory region from which
+ * the bytes will be copied. The contents of the source buffer will not be
+ * modified.
+ *
+ * @param max_bytes_to_copy The maximum number of bytes to be copied.
+ *
+ * @returns The number of bytes copied.
+ *
+ * @note The number of bytes copied is the lesser of:
+ *
+ * @li @c buffer_size(target)
+ *
+ * @li @c buffer_size(source)
+ *
+ * @li @c max_bytes_to_copy
+ *
+ * This function is implemented in terms of @c memcpy, and consequently it
+ * cannot be used to copy between overlapping memory regions.
+ */
+inline std::size_t buffer_copy(const mutable_buffer& target,
+    const mutable_buffers_1& source, std::size_t max_bytes_to_copy)
+{
+  return buffer_copy(buffer(target, max_bytes_to_copy), source);
+}
+
+/// Copies a limited number of bytes from a source buffer sequence to a target
+/// buffer.
+/**
+ * @param target A modifiable buffer representing the memory region to which
+ * the bytes will be copied.
+ *
+ * @param source A non-modifiable buffer sequence representing the memory
+ * regions from which the bytes will be copied.
+ *
+ * @param max_bytes_to_copy The maximum number of bytes to be copied.
+ *
+ * @returns The number of bytes copied.
+ *
+ * @note The number of bytes copied is the lesser of:
+ *
+ * @li @c buffer_size(target)
+ *
+ * @li @c buffer_size(source)
+ *
+ * @li @c max_bytes_to_copy
+ *
+ * This function is implemented in terms of @c memcpy, and consequently it
+ * cannot be used to copy between overlapping memory regions.
+ */
+template <typename ConstBufferSequence>
+inline std::size_t buffer_copy(const mutable_buffer& target,
+    const ConstBufferSequence& source, std::size_t max_bytes_to_copy)
+{
+  return buffer_copy(buffer(target, max_bytes_to_copy), source);
+}
+
+/// Copies a limited number of bytes from a source buffer to a target buffer.
+/**
+ * @param target A modifiable buffer representing the memory region to which
+ * the bytes will be copied.
+ *
+ * @param source A non-modifiable buffer representing the memory region from
+ * which the bytes will be copied.
+ *
+ * @param max_bytes_to_copy The maximum number of bytes to be copied.
+ *
+ * @returns The number of bytes copied.
+ *
+ * @note The number of bytes copied is the lesser of:
+ *
+ * @li @c buffer_size(target)
+ *
+ * @li @c buffer_size(source)
+ *
+ * @li @c max_bytes_to_copy
+ *
+ * This function is implemented in terms of @c memcpy, and consequently it
+ * cannot be used to copy between overlapping memory regions.
+ */
+inline std::size_t buffer_copy(const mutable_buffers_1& target,
+    const const_buffer& source, std::size_t max_bytes_to_copy)
+{
+  return buffer_copy(buffer(target, max_bytes_to_copy), source);
+}
+
+/// Copies a limited number of bytes from a source buffer to a target buffer.
+/**
+ * @param target A modifiable buffer representing the memory region to which
+ * the bytes will be copied.
+ *
+ * @param source A non-modifiable buffer representing the memory region from
+ * which the bytes will be copied.
+ *
+ * @param max_bytes_to_copy The maximum number of bytes to be copied.
+ *
+ * @returns The number of bytes copied.
+ *
+ * @note The number of bytes copied is the lesser of:
+ *
+ * @li @c buffer_size(target)
+ *
+ * @li @c buffer_size(source)
+ *
+ * @li @c max_bytes_to_copy
+ *
+ * This function is implemented in terms of @c memcpy, and consequently it
+ * cannot be used to copy between overlapping memory regions.
+ */
+inline std::size_t buffer_copy(const mutable_buffers_1& target,
+    const const_buffers_1& source, std::size_t max_bytes_to_copy)
+{
+  return buffer_copy(buffer(target, max_bytes_to_copy), source);
+}
+
+/// Copies a limited number of bytes from a source buffer to a target buffer.
+/**
+ * @param target A modifiable buffer representing the memory region to which
+ * the bytes will be copied.
+ *
+ * @param source A modifiable buffer representing the memory region from which
+ * the bytes will be copied. The contents of the source buffer will not be
+ * modified.
+ *
+ * @param max_bytes_to_copy The maximum number of bytes to be copied.
+ *
+ * @returns The number of bytes copied.
+ *
+ * @note The number of bytes copied is the lesser of:
+ *
+ * @li @c buffer_size(target)
+ *
+ * @li @c buffer_size(source)
+ *
+ * @li @c max_bytes_to_copy
+ *
+ * This function is implemented in terms of @c memcpy, and consequently it
+ * cannot be used to copy between overlapping memory regions.
+ */
+inline std::size_t buffer_copy(const mutable_buffers_1& target,
+    const mutable_buffer& source, std::size_t max_bytes_to_copy)
+{
+  return buffer_copy(buffer(target, max_bytes_to_copy), source);
+}
+
+/// Copies a limited number of bytes from a source buffer to a target buffer.
+/**
+ * @param target A modifiable buffer representing the memory region to which
+ * the bytes will be copied.
+ *
+ * @param source A modifiable buffer representing the memory region from which
+ * the bytes will be copied. The contents of the source buffer will not be
+ * modified.
+ *
+ * @param max_bytes_to_copy The maximum number of bytes to be copied.
+ *
+ * @returns The number of bytes copied.
+ *
+ * @note The number of bytes copied is the lesser of:
+ *
+ * @li @c buffer_size(target)
+ *
+ * @li @c buffer_size(source)
+ *
+ * @li @c max_bytes_to_copy
+ *
+ * This function is implemented in terms of @c memcpy, and consequently it
+ * cannot be used to copy between overlapping memory regions.
+ */
+inline std::size_t buffer_copy(const mutable_buffers_1& target,
+    const mutable_buffers_1& source, std::size_t max_bytes_to_copy)
+{
+  return buffer_copy(buffer(target, max_bytes_to_copy), source);
+}
+
+/// Copies a limited number of bytes from a source buffer sequence to a target
+/// buffer.
+/**
+ * @param target A modifiable buffer representing the memory region to which
+ * the bytes will be copied.
+ *
+ * @param source A non-modifiable buffer sequence representing the memory
+ * regions from which the bytes will be copied.
+ *
+ * @param max_bytes_to_copy The maximum number of bytes to be copied.
+ *
+ * @returns The number of bytes copied.
+ *
+ * @note The number of bytes copied is the lesser of:
+ *
+ * @li @c buffer_size(target)
+ *
+ * @li @c buffer_size(source)
+ *
+ * @li @c max_bytes_to_copy
+ *
+ * This function is implemented in terms of @c memcpy, and consequently it
+ * cannot be used to copy between overlapping memory regions.
+ */
+template <typename ConstBufferSequence>
+inline std::size_t buffer_copy(const mutable_buffers_1& target,
+    const ConstBufferSequence& source, std::size_t max_bytes_to_copy)
+{
+  return buffer_copy(buffer(target, max_bytes_to_copy), source);
+}
+
+/// Copies a limited number of bytes from a source buffer to a target buffer
+/// sequence.
+/**
+ * @param target A modifiable buffer sequence representing the memory regions to
+ * which the bytes will be copied.
+ *
+ * @param source A non-modifiable buffer representing the memory region from
+ * which the bytes will be copied.
+ *
+ * @param max_bytes_to_copy The maximum number of bytes to be copied.
+ *
+ * @returns The number of bytes copied.
+ *
+ * @note The number of bytes copied is the lesser of:
+ *
+ * @li @c buffer_size(target)
+ *
+ * @li @c buffer_size(source)
+ *
+ * @li @c max_bytes_to_copy
+ *
+ * This function is implemented in terms of @c memcpy, and consequently it
+ * cannot be used to copy between overlapping memory regions.
+ */
+template <typename MutableBufferSequence>
+inline std::size_t buffer_copy(const MutableBufferSequence& target,
+    const const_buffer& source, std::size_t max_bytes_to_copy)
+{
+  return buffer_copy(target, buffer(source, max_bytes_to_copy));
+}
+
+/// Copies a limited number of bytes from a source buffer to a target buffer
+/// sequence.
+/**
+ * @param target A modifiable buffer sequence representing the memory regions to
+ * which the bytes will be copied.
+ *
+ * @param source A non-modifiable buffer representing the memory region from
+ * which the bytes will be copied.
+ *
+ * @param max_bytes_to_copy The maximum number of bytes to be copied.
+ *
+ * @returns The number of bytes copied.
+ *
+ * @note The number of bytes copied is the lesser of:
+ *
+ * @li @c buffer_size(target)
+ *
+ * @li @c buffer_size(source)
+ *
+ * @li @c max_bytes_to_copy
+ *
+ * This function is implemented in terms of @c memcpy, and consequently it
+ * cannot be used to copy between overlapping memory regions.
+ */
+template <typename MutableBufferSequence>
+inline std::size_t buffer_copy(const MutableBufferSequence& target,
+    const const_buffers_1& source, std::size_t max_bytes_to_copy)
+{
+  return buffer_copy(target, buffer(source, max_bytes_to_copy));
+}
+
+/// Copies a limited number of bytes from a source buffer to a target buffer
+/// sequence.
+/**
+ * @param target A modifiable buffer sequence representing the memory regions to
+ * which the bytes will be copied.
+ *
+ * @param source A modifiable buffer representing the memory region from which
+ * the bytes will be copied. The contents of the source buffer will not be
+ * modified.
+ *
+ * @param max_bytes_to_copy The maximum number of bytes to be copied.
+ *
+ * @returns The number of bytes copied.
+ *
+ * @note The number of bytes copied is the lesser of:
+ *
+ * @li @c buffer_size(target)
+ *
+ * @li @c buffer_size(source)
+ *
+ * @li @c max_bytes_to_copy
+ *
+ * This function is implemented in terms of @c memcpy, and consequently it
+ * cannot be used to copy between overlapping memory regions.
+ */
+template <typename MutableBufferSequence>
+inline std::size_t buffer_copy(const MutableBufferSequence& target,
+    const mutable_buffer& source, std::size_t max_bytes_to_copy)
+{
+  return buffer_copy(target, buffer(source, max_bytes_to_copy));
+}
+
+/// Copies a limited number of bytes from a source buffer to a target buffer
+/// sequence.
+/**
+ * @param target A modifiable buffer sequence representing the memory regions to
+ * which the bytes will be copied.
+ *
+ * @param source A modifiable buffer representing the memory region from which
+ * the bytes will be copied. The contents of the source buffer will not be
+ * modified.
+ *
+ * @param max_bytes_to_copy The maximum number of bytes to be copied.
+ *
+ * @returns The number of bytes copied.
+ *
+ * @note The number of bytes copied is the lesser of:
+ *
+ * @li @c buffer_size(target)
+ *
+ * @li @c buffer_size(source)
+ *
+ * @li @c max_bytes_to_copy
+ *
+ * This function is implemented in terms of @c memcpy, and consequently it
+ * cannot be used to copy between overlapping memory regions.
+ */
+template <typename MutableBufferSequence>
+inline std::size_t buffer_copy(const MutableBufferSequence& target,
+    const mutable_buffers_1& source, std::size_t max_bytes_to_copy)
+{
+  return buffer_copy(target, buffer(source, max_bytes_to_copy));
+}
+
+/// Copies a limited number of bytes from a source buffer sequence to a target
+/// buffer sequence.
+/**
+ * @param target A modifiable buffer sequence representing the memory regions to
+ * which the bytes will be copied.
+ *
+ * @param source A non-modifiable buffer sequence representing the memory
+ * regions from which the bytes will be copied.
+ *
+ * @param max_bytes_to_copy The maximum number of bytes to be copied.
+ *
+ * @returns The number of bytes copied.
+ *
+ * @note The number of bytes copied is the lesser of:
+ *
+ * @li @c buffer_size(target)
+ *
+ * @li @c buffer_size(source)
+ *
+ * @li @c max_bytes_to_copy
+ *
+ * This function is implemented in terms of @c memcpy, and consequently it
+ * cannot be used to copy between overlapping memory regions.
+ */
+template <typename MutableBufferSequence, typename ConstBufferSequence>
+std::size_t buffer_copy(const MutableBufferSequence& target,
+    const ConstBufferSequence& source, std::size_t max_bytes_to_copy)
+{
+  std::size_t total_bytes_copied = 0;
+
+  typename MutableBufferSequence::const_iterator target_iter = target.begin();
+  typename MutableBufferSequence::const_iterator target_end = target.end();
+  std::size_t target_buffer_offset = 0;
+
+  typename ConstBufferSequence::const_iterator source_iter = source.begin();
+  typename ConstBufferSequence::const_iterator source_end = source.end();
+  std::size_t source_buffer_offset = 0;
+
+  while (total_bytes_copied != max_bytes_to_copy
+      && target_iter != target_end && source_iter != source_end)
+  {
+    mutable_buffer target_buffer =
+      mutable_buffer(*target_iter) + target_buffer_offset;
+
+    const_buffer source_buffer =
+      const_buffer(*source_iter) + source_buffer_offset;
+
+    std::size_t bytes_copied = buffer_copy(target_buffer,
+        source_buffer, max_bytes_to_copy - total_bytes_copied);
+    total_bytes_copied += bytes_copied;
+
+    if (bytes_copied == buffer_size(target_buffer))
+    {
+      ++target_iter;
+      target_buffer_offset = 0;
+    }
+    else
+      target_buffer_offset += bytes_copied;
+
+    if (bytes_copied == buffer_size(source_buffer))
+    {
+      ++source_iter;
+      source_buffer_offset = 0;
+    }
+    else
+      source_buffer_offset += bytes_copied;
+  }
+
+  return total_bytes_copied;
+}
+
+/*@}*/
+
+} // namespace asio
+} // namespace boost
+
+#include <boost/asio/detail/pop_options.hpp>
+
+#endif // BOOST_ASIO_BUFFER_HPP