C++ Standard Template Library(STL)

In all the other pages in my blog we learnt about creating basic data structures all by ourselves. It may not always be the best thing to do in real world because of time an efficiency. We also do not want to reinvent the wheel do we ?

Let us now learn about STL which stands for Standard Template Library. Just as the words say it means a set of templates(basic building blocks of code) for data structs and algorithms.

C++ Standard Template Library

STL consists of three main components

1) Algorithms
2) Containers
3) Iterators

1. STL Algorithms 

 i) Sorting : One of the basic algorithms used in almost any system is sorting, C++ STL has a function  
    which does the same, here is the prototype
    sort(first_iterator, last_iterator)
    http://codepad.org/C3YlUxcE

 ii) Searching : Another very important tool in software engineering is searching for an element in a
     given set of elements.
     binary_search(start, end, valueToSearch)
     http://codepad.org/TpWcqm0i

2. STL Containers

i) Vector : It is similar to an array expect with the ability to resize itself when an element is added or
    deleted. Below is an example of an vector.
    http://codepad.org/eTNBnqMZ
ii) List : This container has the ability to store data in non contagious memory locations as apposed to
     a Vector or Array which require contiguous memory locations. Below is an example code of a
     List.
    http://codepad.org/YnXCvuLQ
iii) Queue : Queue is a data structure which follows the principle of FIFO(First In First Out). It is
      similar to the queue discussed in the other page of this blog.
      http://codepad.org/MivtnZXP
iv) Stack : Stack is another data structure which follows the principle of LIFO(Last In First Out). It is
     also same as the one explained in the other page of this blog.
     http://codepad.org/zZIai6hg
v) Map : Several applications need a fast look up of data, Map is one such data structure which gives
    an O(1) computational complexity.
     http://codepad.org/SCVAHB3R