diff --git a/include/boost/multi/array.hpp b/include/boost/multi/array.hpp
index 742f90e3e..dd4403833 100644
--- a/include/boost/multi/array.hpp
+++ b/include/boost/multi/array.hpp
@@ -228,9 +228,9 @@ struct static_array  // NOLINT(fuchsia-multiple-inheritance) : multiple inherita
 
 	template<class It, class = typename std::iterator_traits<std::decay_t<It>>::difference_type>
 	constexpr explicit static_array(It first, It last, allocator_type const& alloc)
-	: array_alloc{alloc}, ref{
+	: array_alloc{alloc}, ref(
 		                      array_alloc::allocate(static_cast<typename multi::allocator_traits<allocator_type>::size_type>(layout_type{index_extension(adl_distance(first, last)) * multi::extensions(*first)}.num_elements())),
-		                      index_extension(adl_distance(first, last)) * multi::extensions(*first)} {
+		                      index_extension(adl_distance(first, last)) * multi::extensions(*first)) {
 	#if defined(__clang__) && defined(__CUDACC__)
 		// TODO(correaa) add workaround for non-default constructible type and use adl_alloc_uninitialized_default_construct_n
 		if constexpr(! std::is_trivially_default_constructible_v<typename static_array::element_type> && ! multi::force_element_trivial_default_construction<typename static_array::element_type> ) {
diff --git a/include/boost/multi/array_ref.hpp b/include/boost/multi/array_ref.hpp
index 71d1f5adb..4ca25ef77 100644
--- a/include/boost/multi/array_ref.hpp
+++ b/include/boost/multi/array_ref.hpp
@@ -87,10 +87,10 @@ namespace boost::multi {
 template<typename T, dimensionality_type D, typename ElementPtr = T*, class Layout = layout_t<D>>
 struct const_subarray;
 
-template<typename T, multi::dimensionality_type D, typename ElementPtr = T*, class Layout = layout_t<D, typename std::pointer_traits<ElementPtr>::difference_type>>
+template<typename T, dimensionality_type D, typename ElementPtr = T*, class Layout = layout_t<D, typename std::pointer_traits<ElementPtr>::difference_type>>
 class subarray;
 
-template<typename T, multi::dimensionality_type D, typename ElementPtr = T*, class Layout = layout_t<D, typename std::pointer_traits<ElementPtr>::difference_type>>
+template<typename T, dimensionality_type D, typename ElementPtr = T*, class Layout = layout_t<D, typename std::pointer_traits<ElementPtr>::difference_type>>
 class move_subarray;
 
 template<typename T, dimensionality_type D, typename ElementPtr, class Layout>
@@ -2698,7 +2698,8 @@ struct const_subarray<T, 1, ElementPtr, Layout>  // NOLINT(fuchsia-multiple-inhe
 
  public:
 	constexpr auto broadcasted() const& {
-		multi::layout_t<2> const new_layout{this->layout(), 0, 0, (std::numeric_limits<size_type>::max)()};
+		multi::layout_t<1> const self_layout{this->layout()};
+		multi::layout_t<2> const new_layout{self_layout, 0, 0, (std::numeric_limits<size_type>::max)()};
 		return const_subarray<T, 2, typename const_subarray::element_const_ptr>{new_layout, types::base_};
 	}
 
@@ -2814,13 +2815,14 @@ struct const_subarray<T, 1, ElementPtr, Layout>  // NOLINT(fuchsia-multiple-inhe
 	#endif
 
 	BOOST_MULTI_HD constexpr auto sliced_aux_(index first, index last) const {
-		typename types::layout_t new_layout = this->layout();
-		if(this->is_empty()) {
-			assert(first == last);  // NOLINT(cppcoreguidelines-pro-bounds-array-to-pointer-decay,hicpp-no-array-decay) : normal in a constexpr function
-			new_layout.nelems() = 0;  // TODO(correaa) : don't use mutation
-		} else {
-			(new_layout.nelems() /= this->size())*=(last - first);
-		}
+		auto const new_layout = typename types::layout_t{
+			this->layout().sub(),
+			this->layout().stride(),
+			this->layout().offset(),
+			(this->is_empty())?
+				0:
+				this->layout().nelems() / this->size() * (last - first)
+		};
 
 		return const_subarray{new_layout, this->base_ + (first*this->layout().stride() - this->layout().offset())};
 	}
@@ -3156,11 +3158,11 @@ struct const_subarray<T, 1, ElementPtr, Layout>  // NOLINT(fuchsia-multiple-inhe
 
  public:
 	template<class T2, class P2 = typename std::pointer_traits<element_ptr>::template rebind<T2>>
-	constexpr auto static_array_cast() const -> subarray<T2, 1, P2> {  // name taken from std::static_pointer_cast
+	constexpr auto static_array_cast() const -> subarray<T2, 1, P2, Layout> {  // name taken from std::static_pointer_cast
 		return {this->layout(), static_cast<P2>(this->base_)};
 	}
 	template<class T2, class P2 = typename std::pointer_traits<element_ptr>::template rebind<T2>, class... Args>
-	constexpr auto static_array_cast(Args&&... args) const -> subarray<T2, 1, P2> {  // name taken from std::static_pointer_cast
+	constexpr auto static_array_cast(Args&&... args) const -> subarray<T2, 1, P2, Layout> {  // name taken from std::static_pointer_cast
 		return {this->layout(), P2{this->base_, std::forward<Args>(args)...}};
 	}
 
@@ -3278,16 +3280,30 @@ constexpr auto static_array_cast(Array&& self, Args&&... args) -> decltype(auto)
 }
 
 template<typename T, dimensionality_type D, typename ElementPtr = T*>
-struct array_ref  // TODO(correaa) : inheredit from multi::partially_ordered2<array_ref<T, D, ElementPtr>, void>?
-: subarray<T, D, ElementPtr>
+class array_ref : public subarray<
+	T, D, ElementPtr,
+	std::conditional_t<(D == 1),
+		// continuous_layout<1, typename std::pointer_traits<ElementPtr>::difference_type>,
+		layout_t<D, typename std::pointer_traits<ElementPtr>::difference_type>,
+		layout_t<D, typename std::pointer_traits<ElementPtr>::difference_type>
+	>
+>
 {
-	~array_ref() = default;  // lints(cppcoreguidelines-special-member-functions)
+	using subarray_base = subarray<
+		T, D, ElementPtr,
+		std::conditional_t<(D == 1),
+			// continuous_layout<1, typename std::pointer_traits<ElementPtr>::difference_type>,
+			layout_t<D, typename std::pointer_traits<ElementPtr>::difference_type>,
+			layout_t<D, typename std::pointer_traits<ElementPtr>::difference_type>
+		>
+	>;
 
-	using layout_type = typename array_ref::types::layout_t;
+ public:
+	~array_ref() = default;  // lints(cppcoreguidelines-special-member-functions)
 
-	using iterator = typename subarray<T, D, ElementPtr>::iterator;
+	using layout_type = typename subarray_base::layout_t;
+	using iterator = typename subarray_base::iterator;
 
- public:
 	constexpr  // attempt for MSVC
 	array_ref() = delete;  // because reference cannot be unbound
 
@@ -3315,21 +3331,21 @@ struct array_ref  // TODO(correaa) : inheredit from multi::partially_ordered2<ar
 
 	template<class OtherPtr, class=std::enable_if_t<! std::is_same<OtherPtr, ElementPtr>{}>, decltype(multi::detail::explicit_cast<ElementPtr>(std::declval<OtherPtr>()))* = nullptr>
 	constexpr explicit array_ref(array_ref<T, D, OtherPtr>&& other)
-	: subarray<T, D, ElementPtr>{other.layout(), ElementPtr{std::move(other).base()}} {}  // cppcheck-suppress internalAstError ; bug in cppcheck 2.13.0
+	: subarray_base(other.layout(), ElementPtr{std::move(other).base()}) {}  // cppcheck-suppress internalAstError ; bug in cppcheck 2.13.0
 
 	template<class OtherPtr, class=std::enable_if_t<! std::is_same<OtherPtr, ElementPtr>{}>, decltype(multi::detail::implicit_cast<ElementPtr>(std::declval<OtherPtr>()))* = nullptr>
 	// cppcheck-suppress noExplicitConstructor ; to allow terse syntax
 	constexpr /*implicit*/ array_ref(array_ref<T, D, OtherPtr>&& other)  // NOLINT(google-explicit-constructor,hicpp-explicit-conversions)
-	: subarray<T, D, ElementPtr>{other.layout(), ElementPtr{std::move(other).base()}} {}
+	: subarray_base(other.layout(), ElementPtr{std::move(other).base()}) {}
 
 	constexpr array_ref(ElementPtr dat, ::boost::multi::extensions_t<D> const& xs) /*noexcept*/  // TODO(correa) eliminate this ctor
-	: subarray<T, D, ElementPtr>{typename subarray<T, D, ElementPtr>::types::layout_t(xs), dat} {}
+	: subarray_base(typename subarray_base::types::layout_t(xs), dat) {}
 
 	// constexpr array_ref(typename array_ref::extensions_type extensions, typename array_ref::element_ptr dat) noexcept
 	// : subarray<T, D, ElementPtr>{typename array_ref::types::layout_t{extensions}, dat} {}
 
 	constexpr array_ref(::boost::multi::extensions_t<D> exts, ElementPtr dat) noexcept
-	: subarray<T, D, ElementPtr>{typename array_ref::types::layout_t(exts), dat} {}
+	: subarray_base{typename array_ref::types::layout_t(exts), dat} {}
 
 	template<
 		class Array,
@@ -3373,7 +3389,7 @@ struct array_ref  // TODO(correaa) : inheredit from multi::partially_ordered2<ar
 	// cppcheck-suppress noExplicitConstructor
 	array_ref(std::initializer_list<TT> il) : array_ref(il.begin(), typename array_ref::extensions_type{static_cast<typename array_ref::size_type>(il.size())}) {}
 
-	using subarray<T, D, ElementPtr>::operator=;
+	using subarray_base::operator=;
 
  private:
 	template<class It> constexpr auto copy_elements_(It first) {
@@ -3418,10 +3434,8 @@ struct array_ref  // TODO(correaa) : inheredit from multi::partially_ordered2<ar
 	}
 
 	template<typename TT, dimensionality_type DD = D, class... As>
-//  constexpr
 	auto operator=(array_ref<TT, DD, As...> const& other)& -> array_ref& {
 		assert( this->extensions() == other.extensions() );
-	//  MULTI_MARK_SCOPE(std::string{"multi::operator= D="}+std::to_string(D)+" from "+typeid(TT).name()+" to "+typeid(T).name() );
 		adl_copy_n(other.data_elements(), other.num_elements(), this->data_elements());
 		return *this;
 	}
@@ -3563,7 +3577,7 @@ struct array_ref  // TODO(correaa) : inheredit from multi::partially_ordered2<ar
  private:
 	template<class Ar>
 	auto serialize_structured_(Ar& arxiv, unsigned int const version) {
-		subarray<T, D, ElementPtr>::serialize(arxiv, version);
+		subarray_base::serialize(arxiv, version);
 	}
 	template<class Archive>
 	auto serialize_flat_(Archive& arxiv, unsigned int const /*version*/) {
@@ -3618,7 +3632,7 @@ struct array_ptr
 	using basic_ptr = subarray_ptr<T, D, Ptr, typename array_ref<T, D, Ptr>::layout_t>;
 
 	constexpr array_ptr(Ptr data, multi::extensions_t<D> extensions)
-	: basic_ptr{data, multi::layout_t<D>{extensions}} {}
+	: basic_ptr{data, typename array_ref<T, D, Ptr>::layout_t(extensions)} {}
 
 	constexpr explicit array_ptr(std::nullptr_t nil) : array_ptr{nil, multi::extensions_t<D>{}} {}
 
diff --git a/include/boost/multi/detail/layout.hpp b/include/boost/multi/detail/layout.hpp
index 5aa94da0e..468cc91b0 100644
--- a/include/boost/multi/detail/layout.hpp
+++ b/include/boost/multi/detail/layout.hpp
@@ -503,6 +503,78 @@ struct monostate : equality_comparable<monostate> {
 	friend BOOST_MULTI_HD constexpr auto operator==(monostate const& /*self*/, monostate const& /*other*/) {return true;}
 };
 
+template<multi::dimensionality_t D, typename SSsize = multi::size_t>
+class continuous_layout;
+
+template<typename SSize>
+class continuous_layout<1, SSize> {
+ public:
+	continuous_layout() = default;
+
+	using dimensionality_type = multi::dimensionality_t;
+	using rank = std::integral_constant<dimensionality_type, 1>;
+	static constexpr dimensionality_type rank_v = rank::value;
+	static constexpr dimensionality_type dimensionality = rank_v;  // TODO(correaa) : consider deprecation
+
+	using difference_type = SSize;
+	using size_type = difference_type;
+
+	using index = difference_type;
+	using index_range = multi::range<index>;
+	using index_extension = multi::extension_t<index>;
+	using extension_type = index_extension;
+
+	constexpr auto extension() const { return extension_type{offset_, offset_ + nelems_}; }
+
+	using extensions_type = multi::index_extensions<1>;
+	auto extensions() const -> extensions_type { return extensions_type{extension()}; };
+
+	constexpr auto is_empty() const -> bool { return false; }
+	constexpr auto    empty() const -> bool { return is_empty(); }
+
+	auto is_compact() const = delete;
+
+	auto sub() const { return layout_t<0, SSize>{}; }
+
+	using stride_type = std::integral_constant<difference_type, 1>;
+	auto stride() const -> stride_type { return {}; }
+
+	using num_elements_type = size_type;
+	auto num_elements() const -> num_elements_type { return nelems_; }
+
+	using offset_type = difference_type;
+	auto offset() const -> offset_type { return offset_; }
+
+	using offsets_type = void;
+	auto offsets() const -> offsets_type;
+
+	using strides_type = multi::tuple<std::integral_constant<difference_type, 1> >;
+	auto strides() const -> stride_type;
+
+	auto size() const -> size_type { return nelems_; }
+
+	using nelems_type = size_type;
+	constexpr auto nelems() const -> nelems_type { return nelems_; }
+
+	using sizes_type = void;
+	auto sizes() const -> sizes_type = delete;
+
+	constexpr auto operator()(index const& idx) const -> difference_type { return idx - offset_; }
+
+ private:
+	// BOOST_MULTI_NO_UNIQUE_ADDRESS sub_type    sub_   ;
+	// BOOST_MULTI_NO_UNIQUE_ADDRESS stride_type stride_;  // = {};
+	offset_type offset_;
+	nelems_type nelems_;
+
+ public:
+	constexpr explicit continuous_layout(extensions_type const& xs)
+	: offset_{xs.get<0>().front()},
+	  nelems_{xs.get<0>().size()} {}
+
+	constexpr auto reindex(index idx) -> auto& { offset_ = idx * stride(); return *this; }
+};
+
 template<typename SSize>
 struct layout_t<0, SSize>
 : multi::equality_comparable<layout_t<0, SSize> >
@@ -567,7 +639,7 @@ struct layout_t<0, SSize>
 	[[nodiscard]] constexpr auto offsets() const {return offsets_type{};}
 	[[nodiscard]] constexpr auto nelemss() const {return nelemss_type{};}
 
-	constexpr auto operator()() const {return offset_;}
+	constexpr auto operator()() const { return offset_; }
 	// constexpr explicit operator offset_type() const {return offset_;}
 
 	constexpr auto stride() const -> stride_type = delete;
@@ -666,6 +738,20 @@ struct layout_t
  public:
 	layout_t() = default;
 
+	template<
+		class OtherLayout,
+		class = decltype(sub_type   {std::declval<OtherLayout const&>().sub()}),
+		class = decltype(stride_type{std::declval<OtherLayout const&>().stride()}),
+		class = decltype(offset_type{std::declval<OtherLayout const&>().offset()}),
+		class = decltype(nelems_type{std::declval<OtherLayout const&>().nelems()})
+	>
+	BOOST_MULTI_HD constexpr explicit layout_t(OtherLayout const& other) :
+		sub_{other.sub()}, 
+		stride_{other.stride()},
+		offset_{other.offset()},
+		nelems_{other.nelems()}
+	{}
+
 	BOOST_MULTI_HD constexpr explicit layout_t(extensions_type const& extensions) :
 		sub_{
 			std::apply(
@@ -705,9 +791,9 @@ struct layout_t
 	constexpr auto operator[](index idx) const {return at_aux_(idx);}
 
 	template<typename... Indices>
-	constexpr auto operator()(index idx, Indices... rest) const {return operator[](idx)(rest...);}
-	constexpr auto operator()(index idx)                  const {return at_aux_(idx);}
-	constexpr auto operator()()                           const {return *this;}
+	constexpr auto operator()(index idx, Indices... rest) const { return operator[](idx)(rest...); }
+	constexpr auto operator()(index idx)                  const { return at_aux_(idx); }
+	constexpr auto operator()()                           const { return *this; }
 
 	       BOOST_MULTI_HD constexpr auto sub()             &       -> sub_type      & {return      sub_ ;}
 	       BOOST_MULTI_HD constexpr auto sub()        const&       -> sub_type const& {return      sub_ ;}
diff --git a/include/boost/multi/detail/tuple_zip.hpp b/include/boost/multi/detail/tuple_zip.hpp
index 44c83369b..80c4fcffb 100644
--- a/include/boost/multi/detail/tuple_zip.hpp
+++ b/include/boost/multi/detail/tuple_zip.hpp
@@ -14,7 +14,8 @@
 namespace boost::multi {  // NOLINT(modernize-concat-nested-namespaces) keep c++14 compat
 namespace detail {
 
-template<class... Ts> class tuple;
+// we need a custom tuple type, so some fundamental types (e.g. iterators) are trivially constructible
+template<class... Ts> class tuple;  // TODO(correaa) consider renaming it to `tpl`
 
 template<> class tuple<> {  // NOLINT(cppcoreguidelines-special-member-functions,hicpp-special-member-functions)
  public:
@@ -57,6 +58,10 @@ template<class T0, class... Ts> class tuple<T0, Ts...> : tuple<Ts...> {  // NOLI
 	// cppcheck-suppress noExplicitConstructor ; allow bracket init in function argument // NOLINTNEXTLINE(runtime/explicit)
 	constexpr tuple(T0 head, Ts... tail) : tail_type{tail...}, head_{head} {}  // NOLINT(google-explicit-constructor,hicpp-explicit-conversions) to allow bracket function calls
 
+	// cppcheck-suppress noExplicitConstructor ; allow bracket init in function argument // NOLINTNEXTLINE(runtime/explicit)
+	template<class TT0 = T0, std::enable_if_t<sizeof(TT0*) && (sizeof...(Ts) == 0), int> =0>
+	constexpr tuple(TT0 head) : tail_type{}, head_{head} {}  // NOLINT(google-explicit-constructor,hicpp-explicit-conversions) to allow bracket function calls
+
 	// cppcheck-suppress noExplicitConstructor ; allow bracket init in function argument // NOLINTNEXTLINE(runtime/explicit)
 	constexpr explicit tuple(::std::tuple<T0, Ts...> other) : tuple(::std::apply([](auto... es) {return tuple(es...);}, other)) {}  // NOLINT(google-explicit-constructor,hicpp-explicit-conversions)
 
diff --git a/include/boost/multi/detail/types.hpp b/include/boost/multi/detail/types.hpp
index 952a38bad..5a71bb454 100644
--- a/include/boost/multi/detail/types.hpp
+++ b/include/boost/multi/detail/types.hpp
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-// Copyright 2018-2024 Alfredo A. Correa
+// Copyright 2018-2025 Alfredo A. Correa
 // Distributed under the Boost Software License, Version 1.0.
 // https://www.boost.org/LICENSE_1_0.txt
 
@@ -16,7 +16,8 @@ using size_type = std::make_signed_t<std::size_t>;
 using index               = std::make_signed_t<size_type>;
 using difference_type     = std::make_signed_t<index>;
 
-using dimensionality_type = index;
+using dimensionality_t = index;
+using dimensionality_type = dimensionality_t;
 
 }  // end namespace boost::multi
 #endif  // BOOST_MULTI_DETAIL_TYPES_HPP
diff --git a/test/array_ref.cpp b/test/array_ref.cpp
index 96c5c85f7..4b9282d11 100644
--- a/test/array_ref.cpp
+++ b/test/array_ref.cpp
@@ -136,6 +136,22 @@ inline auto trace_separate_sub(multi::subarray<int, 2> const& arr) -> int {
 }  // end unnamed namespace
 
 auto main() -> int {  // NOLINT(readability-function-cognitive-complexity,bugprone-exception-escape)
+
+{
+	// NOLINTNEXTLINE(cppcoreguidelines-avoid-c-arrays,hicpp-avoid-c-arrays,modernize-avoid-c-arrays) for test
+	int icarr[5] = {};
+	multi::array_ref<int, 1> const iarrr(std::data(icarr), 5);
+	static_assert( std::is_base_of_v<
+		std::random_access_iterator_tag,
+		std::iterator_traits<multi::array_ref<int, 1>::iterator>::iterator_category
+	>);
+
+	// static_assert( std::is_base_of_v<
+	//  std::contiguous_iterator_tag,
+	//  std::iterator_traits<multi::array_ref<int, 1>::iterator>::iterator_category
+	// >);
+}
+
 BOOST_AUTO_TEST_CASE(array_ref_from_carray) {
 	#if defined(__clang__)
 	#pragma clang diagnostic push
@@ -143,7 +159,7 @@ BOOST_AUTO_TEST_CASE(array_ref_from_carray) {
 	#pragma clang diagnostic ignored "-Wunsafe-buffer-usage"
 	#endif
 
-	// NOLINTNEXTLINE(cppcoreguidelines-avoid-c-arrays,hicpp-avoid-c-arrays,modernize-avoid-c-arrays): test
+	// NOLINTNEXTLINE(cppcoreguidelines-avoid-c-arrays,hicpp-avoid-c-arrays,modernize-avoid-c-arrays) for test
 	int arr[4][5] = {
 		{  0,  10,  20,  30,  40},
 		{ 50,  60,  70,  80,  90},
diff --git a/test/element_access.cpp b/test/element_access.cpp
index 651cf533a..c70a2823f 100644
--- a/test/element_access.cpp
+++ b/test/element_access.cpp
@@ -148,7 +148,7 @@ auto main() -> int {  // NOLINT(readability-function-cognitive-complexity,bugpro
 			BOOST_TEST( end1 == beg1 );
 
 			for(; end1 != end2; ++end1) {  // NOLINT(altera-id-dependent-backward-branch,altera-unroll-loops)
-			}  
+			}
 			BOOST_TEST( end1 == end2 );
 		}