STL

Standard Template Library (STL)

1. Introduction

Welcome to the Standard Template Library (STL) readme file! The STL is a powerful and essential part of C++ that provides a collection of template classes and functions to make common data structures and algorithms readily available to C++ programmers. It simplifies and accelerates the development of complex programs by offering a wide range of reusable and efficient components.

This readme provides a brief overview of STL, how to use it, its core components, and some examples to get you started.

2. Contents

STL consists of several essential components, categorized as follows:

2.1. Containers

• Simple:

  • pair

• Sequence:

  • Arrays

  • Vectors (std::vector): Dynamic arrays that can grow or shrink in size.

  • Lists (std::list): Doubly-linked lists that allow efficient insertion and removal of elements.

  • Deques (std::deque): Double-ended queues that support fast insertion and removal at both ends.

  • Forward list

• Associative:

  • Maps
  • Multimap
  • Sets
  • Multiset

• Unordered:

  • Unordered Sets
  • Unordered Multiset
  • Unordered Maps
  • Unordered Multimap

• Adapter:

  • Stacks
  • Queues
  • Priority queue

2.2. Algorithms

STL provides a wide range of algorithms for common operations on containers. Some of the essential algorithms include:

• Sorting (std::sort): Sorts elements in a container in ascending order.

• Searching (std::find): Searches for an element in a container.

• Insertion (std::insert): Inserts elements into a container.

• Deletion (std::erase): Removes elements from a container.

• Transformations (std::transform): Applies a function to elements in a container.

• Aggregations (std::accumulate): Computes the sum, product, or other aggregates of elements in a container.

2.3. Iterators

STL iterators provide a generalized way to access elements in containers. They allow you to traverse and manipulate container elements without needing to know the specific container's underlying data structure.

3. Usage

To use STL in your C++ project, follow these steps:

1. Include the necessary header files: To access STL components, include the relevant header files in your code. For example, to use vectors, include <vector>

   #include <vector>

2. Use the STL components: You can start using STL components in your code after including the relevant header files. Create objects of STL classes or use STL functions and algorithms as needed in your application.

3. Compile and run: Compile your C++ code with a C++ compiler that supports STL (most modern C++ compilers do). Be sure to link the standard library when compiling.

   g++ program.cpp -o a
   ./a

4. Enjoy the benefits: STL provides a wide range of containers (like vectors, lists, and maps) and algorithms (like sorting and searching) to simplify your code and make it more efficient.

4. Contributing

Contributions to the STL are welcome! If you find bugs, want to propose new features, or improve documentation, please consider contributing. Here's how you can contribute:

1. Fork the STL repository.
2. Make your changes or additions.
3. Submit a pull request with a clear description of your changes.