Using the STL: The C++ Standard Template Library

The standard template library for C++ (the STL) is an important addition to C++ and is rapidly becoming required knowledge for all C++ programmers. It provides a collection of generic data structures and algorithms written in C++ and has been adopted by the ANSI committee for the standardization of C++. The STL is increasingly becoming an extension to the language that will be supported by most if not all C++ compilers. The principal strengths of the STL are that: * the STL generalizes the concept of iterator * the STL algorithms can be used on regular arrays, thus increasing the applicability of the algorithms * The STL pays particular attention to the efficiency of the algorithms used. This book provides a comprehensive introduction and guide to the STL pitched at the level of readers already familiar with C++. It presents a thorough overview of the capabilities of the STL, detailed discussions of the use of containers, descriptions of the algorithms and how they may be used, and how the STL may be extended. An appendix provides an alphabetical reference to the entire STL. As a result, programmers of C++ and students coming to the STL for the first time will find this an extremely useful hands-on text. About the author: Dr. Robson has been involved in the computer industry and academics for the past seventeen years. He holds a Ph. D. from McGill University in Software Engineering, spent a decade in academics, and currently works in the industry.

Table of Contents:
1 Introduction.- 1.1 What Is the STL?.- 1.2 History.- 1.3 STL Components.- 1.4 Generic Algorithms.- 1.5 Iterators.- 1.6 Standard Exceptions.- 1.7 Complexity.- 1.8 Thread Safety.- 1.9 Namespaces.- 1.10 Overview of This Book.- 2 Iterators.- 2.1 Introduction.- 2.2 Pointers as Iterators.- 2.3 Iterator Classes.- 2.4 Using Iterators.- 2.5 Iterator Functions.- 2.6 Iterator Tags.- 2.7 Iterator Traits.- 3 The STL Algorithms.- 3.1 Introduction.- 3.2 Operators.- 3.3 Function Objects.- 3.4 The STL Algorithms.- 4 Sequence Algorithms.- 4.1 Introduction.- 4.2 Preliminaries.- 4.3 Nonmutating Sequence Algorithms.- 4.4 Mutating Sequence Algorithms.- 5 Sorting and Related Algorithms.- 5.1 Introduction.- 5.2 Preliminaries.- 5.3 Sorting.- 5.4 Searching Algorithms.- 5.5 Set Algorithms.- 5.6 Heap Algorithms.- 5.7 Miscellaneous Algorithms.- 6 Generalized Numeric Algorithms.- 6.1 Introduction.- 6.2 Accumulation.- 6.3 Inner Product.- 6.4 Partial Sum.- 6.5 Adjacent Difference.- 6.6 Numeric Arrays.- 7 Sequence Containers.- 7.1 Introduction.- 7.2 Container Operations.- 7.3 Vectors.- 7.4 Lists.- 7.5 Deques.- 7.6 Choosing a Sequence Container.- 7.7 Strings.- 8 Associative Containers.- 8.1 Introduction.- 8.2 Associative Container Operations.- 8.3 Sets.- 8.4 Multisets.- 8.5 Maps.- 8.6 Associative Container Implementation.- 8.7 Hash Table Implementations.- 8.8 Container Selection.- 9 Adaptors.- 9.1 Introduction.- 9.2 Container Adaptors.- 9.3 The Stack.- 9.4 Queues.- 9.5 Priority Queues.- 9.6 Iterator Adaptors.- 9.7 Function Adaptors.- 10 Memory Management.- 10.1 Introduction.- 10.2 Allocators.- 10.3 Uninitialized Memory Operations.- 10.4 Temporary Buffers.- 10.5 auto_ptr.- 11 Putting the STL to Work.- 11.1 Introduction.- 11.2 A Banking Problem.- 11.3 Symbol Tables.- 12 The Story Continues.- 12.1 Introduction.- 12.2 The Future.- 12.3 Summary.- Appendix A STL Header Files.- Appendix B The STL Reference.- References.