What are the best STL container choices for C++?

What are the best STL container choices for C++?

The best STL container choices depend on your specific needs. For example, if you need fast access by index, use vector. If you need to maintain order and allow duplicates, list is a good choice. For key-value pairs, consider map.

Can you explain when to use a set instead of a vector?

Certainly! Use a set when you need to store unique elements and want to perform fast lookups, insertions, and deletions. A vector is better for ordered collections where duplicates are allowed.

What about performance differences between these containers?

Performance varies: vector has O(1) access time but O(n) for insertions/deletions in the middle. set has O(log n) for insertions and lookups but no direct access by index.

Are there any specific scenarios where I should avoid using map?

Yes, avoid using map if you need to maintain insertion order or if you have a large number of elements with a small range of keys, as it can be less efficient than other structures like unordered_map.