C++ Day 39 STL Containers (Deep Understanding & Real Usage) Till now, you already know arrays, vectors, loops, and STL algorithms. Today, we go one step deeper and understand STL containers , which are the backbone of modern C++ programming. In real projects and competitive coding, choice of container matters a lot. 1. What are STL Containers? STL containers are data structures provided by C++ to store data efficiently. They handle: memory management resizing element access performance optimization You focus on logic , not memory handling. 2. Categories of STL Containers STL containers are mainly divided into: Sequence Containers Associative Containers Unordered Containers Container Adapters 3. Sequence Containers These store data in sequence . 3.1 Vector Most used container in C++. vector< int > v; Key Features: Dynamic size Contiguous memory Fast random access Slower insertion in middle Example: v. push_...
C++ Day 38 STL Algorithms (Practical & Real-World Usage) Until now, you have learned about loops, arrays, vectors, functions, and STL containers. From today, you move into the real power of C++ , where you stop writing long loops again and again and instead use ready-made logic provided by the Standard Template Library (STL). These are called STL Algorithms . 1. What are STL Algorithms? STL algorithms are predefined functions that perform common operations like: searching sorting counting modifying data checking conditions They work on ranges , not directly on containers. A range is defined using: container. begin (), container. end () This design makes algorithms container-independent . 2. Why Use STL Algorithms Instead of Loops? Consider this loop: int sum = 0 ; for ( int i = 0 ; i < v. size (); i++) { sum += v[i]; } Now compare with: int sum = accumulate (v. begin (), v. end (), 0 ); Advantages: Less code Fewer bugs ...