Is it possible to create a better version of `std::min` & `std::max`?

Question

With the new features of C++17, is it possible to create a better std::min and std::max?

What I mean by better:

• std::min/max has the problem of dangling references.
• std::min/max doesn't work with different types (i.e., min(short, int) needs to explicitly specify the type min<int>(...))

I'd like to have a better implementation, which:

• avoids the dangling reference problem (for example, min(a, 4); works correctly)
• works with different types (for example, min((short)4, (int)8); compiles)
• avoids unnecessary object copies (for example, if I have a class which represents a big integer, it only copies it when it is unavoidable)

Is it possible to do this, or is std::min/max the current best solution which one can have?

Answer 1

Here's an old and failed proposal for a better min/max using just C++11 tech:

http://www.open-std.org/jtc1/sc22/wg21/docs/papers/2007/n2199.html