Data Structures
C++ Sets
Working with Sets
C++ sets use std::set for unique elements.
Introduction to C++ Sets
C++ sets are associative containers that store unique elements following a specific order. The std::set is part of the C++ Standard Library, providing an efficient implementation for managing unique elements.
Sets automatically sort their elements and disallow duplicates, making them ideal for tasks requiring unique collections or natural ordering of elements.
Creating and Initializing Sets
To use std::set, include the header <set>. You can initialize a set with default or custom sorting orders using the template parameter.
Adding and Removing Elements
Elements can be added to a set using the insert() method. Attempting to insert an existing element does not change the set, as duplicates are not allowed.
To remove elements, use the erase() method, which can take an element value or an iterator.
Set Operations and Methods
Sets provide various methods to manipulate and query elements, such as find() to locate an element, and count() to check for element existence (returns 0 or 1).
Other useful methods include clear() to remove all elements, and size() to get the number of elements.
Iterating Over Sets
Iterating over a set can be done using iterators or range-based loops. The elements are accessed in their sorted order.
Using Custom Comparators
Custom comparators can be used to change the order of elements in a set. This is achieved by providing a comparator function or functor.
