Can you remove elements from a std::list while iterating through it?

You have to increment the iterator first (with i++) and then remove the previous element (e.g., by using the returned value from i++). You can change the code to a while loop like so:

std::list<item*>::iterator i = items.begin();
while (i != items.end())
{
    bool isActive = (*i)->update();
    if (!isActive)
    {
        items.erase(i++);  // alternatively, i = items.erase(i);
    }
    else
    {
        other_code_involving(*i);
        ++i;
    }
}

You want to do:

i= items.erase(i);

That will correctly update the iterator to point to the location after the iterator you removed.

You need to do the combination of Kristo's answer and MSN's:

// Note: Using the pre-increment operator is preferred for iterators because
//       there can be a performance gain.
//
// Note: As long as you are iterating from beginning to end, without inserting
//       along the way you can safely save end once; otherwise get it at the
//       top of each loop.

std::list< item * >::iterator iter = items.begin();
std::list< item * >::iterator end  = items.end();

while (iter != end)
{
    item * pItem = *iter;

    if (pItem->update() == true)
    {
        other_code_involving(pItem);
        ++iter;
    }
    else
    {
        // BTW, who is deleting pItem, a.k.a. (*iter)?
        iter = items.erase(iter);
    }
}

Of course, the most efficient and SuperCool® STL savy thing would be something like this:

// This implementation of update executes other_code_involving(Item *) if
// this instance needs updating.
//
// This method returns true if this still needs future updates.
//
bool Item::update(void)
{
    if (m_needsUpdates == true)
    {
        m_needsUpdates = other_code_involving(this);
    }

    return (m_needsUpdates);
}

// This call does everything the previous loop did!!! (Including the fact
// that it isn't deleting the items that are erased!)
items.remove_if(std::not1(std::mem_fun(&Item::update)));