title: Which C++ concept is better suited to model a database query - stream or input iterator?
body: <p>I would like to treat a database query as a standard C++ input iterator.
  On the other hand, one can view a database query as an input stream of query result items. 
  What do you think is a better model for a db query - an input iterator or an input stream? </p>
  
  <p>Personally, I have an impression that C++ IO streams are supposed to operate on characters only, where I have never seen any example of a stream where characters would be something other than <code>char</code> or <code>wchar_t</code>. I understand, that the templated nature of the streams allows me to pass anything as a character, so theoretically, it seems that I can treat the query result item as a character for the sake of streaming, but I am not sure if it is a good idea.</p>
  
  <p>Advices are welcome.</p>
  
  <p>Thanks.</p>