Part 4: Creating STL-Compatible Types and Algorithms
This part of our book is dedicated to the creation and integration of custom types and algorithms within the C++ Standard Template Library ecosystem. We start by exploring the construction of STL-compatible containers, detailing the essential requirements for seamless interoperability with STL algorithms. We discuss the importance of crafting robust iterators and the nuances of operator overloading to provide intuitive and consistent behavior for custom types. Special attention is given to creating custom hash functions to facilitate the use of user-defined types with unordered associative containers.
Next, we get into the intricacies of developing STL-compatible algorithms. This includes mastering template functions, understanding the subtleties of overloading, and leveraging inline functions for performance. We will emphasize the use of predicates and functors for enhanced flexibility.
Finally, we are introduced to...