What are the different STL container types in C++?

What are the different STL container types in C++?

In C++, the Standard Template Library (STL) provides several container types, including vectors, lists, deques, sets, maps, and arrays. Each has its own use cases and performance characteristics.

Can you explain the differences between vectors and lists?

Sure! Vectors are dynamic arrays that allow fast random access and are efficient for adding/removing elements at the end. Lists, on the other hand, are doubly linked lists that allow efficient insertions and deletions from anywhere but have slower access times.

When should I use a map instead of a set?

Use a map when you need to associate keys with values, allowing for fast lookups by key. A set is used when you only need to store unique elements without any associated values.

What about unordered containers?

Unordered containers, like unordered_set and unordered_map, use hash tables for storage, providing average constant time complexity for insertions, deletions, and lookups, but they do not maintain any order of elements.