Sequence Containers in C++

Introduction:

C++ is a powerful programming language that provides many features to developers to create efficient and robust applications. One of the essential features of C++ is its Standard Template Library (STL), which offers many data structures and algorithms to make programming easier and more efficient.

Sequence Containers are an essential part of STL, and they provide a way to store elements in a particular order. They are advantageous for many applications because they enable random access to elements. In this article, we will discuss Sequence Containers in C++, their features, and the types of sequence containers provided by STL.

What are Sequence Containers in C++?

In C++, Sequence Containers are used to store elements in a particular order. They provide efficient random access to elements and allow the insertion and deletion of elements at any position. Sequence Containers in C++ are defined in the header file "<vector>" and "<deque>".

Sequence Containers can store various data types, such as integers, characters, strings, and user-defined data types. They are implemented as dynamic arrays, linked lists, and arrays of fixed-size elements. These containers provide several functions to manipulate the elements, such as accessing elements, inserting and deleting elements, and searching for elements.

Features of Sequence Containers in C++:

Sequence Containers in C++ have the following features:

• Ordered Storage:

Sequence Containers store elements in a particular order, defined by their position in the container. This makes it possible to insert and remove elements at any point while also enabling effective random access to elements.

• Random Access:

Effective random access to elements is provided by sequence containers. This means you can access any element in the container directly without having to traverse through the entire container.

• Dynamic Size:

Sequence Containers can have their size changed at any moment, allowing you to add or remove items as needed.

• Efficient Insertion and Deletion:

Sequence containers allow for the efficient insertion and deletion of elements at any position in the container. This is because they are implemented as dynamic arrays or linked lists.

• Standardized Interface:

Sequence Containers provide a standardized interface for manipulating elements. This means that you can use the same set of functions to manipulate elements, regardless of the type of sequence container being used.

Types of Sequence Containers in C++:

STL provides several types of Sequence Containers in C++. Each container has its own advantages and disadvantages, and you can choose the container that best suits your needs. The most popular sequence containers in C++ are the following:

• Vector:

A vector is a sequence container that provides efficient random access to elements. It is implemented as a dynamic array, which means that its size can be changed dynamically. Vectors are efficient for adding or deleting elements at the end of the container.

• Deque:

A Deque (short for double-ended queue) is a Sequence Container that provides efficient random access to elements, like a vector. It is implemented as a sequence of fixed-size arrays, which allows for efficient insertion and deletion of elements at the beginning or end of the container.

• List:

A doubly-linked list is how a list is implemented as a Sequence Container. It offers effective element insertion and deletion at any position in the container, but it does not provide random access to elements.

• Forward List:

A forward list is a Sequence Container that is implemented as a singly-linked list. It offers effective element insertion and deletion at any position in the container, but it does not provide random access to elements.

• Array:

An array is a sequence container implemented as a fixed-size array. The size of the array is fixed at compile-time, which means that it cannot be changed dynamically.

• String:

A string is a sequence container that is used to store strings of characters. It provides efficient random access to characters and provides many functions for manipulating strings, such as appending, concatenating, and searching for substrings.

• Span:

A span is a sequence container that is used to represent a view of a contiguous sequence of elements. It provides a non-owning view of the underlying container, which allows for efficient manipulation of the elements.

Sequence Container Functions

Each Sequence Container in C++ provides a set of functions for manipulating elements. These functions are standardized across all sequence containers, which means that you can use the same set of functions to manipulate elements regardless of the type of container being used. Some of the most general used functions for sequence containers are

Insert:

This function is used to insert elements at a specified position in the container.

Erase:

With the help of this function, you can remove components from the container at a specific location.

Push_back:

This function adds an element to the end of the container.

Pop_back:

This function removes the last element from the container.

Size:

This function is used to get the number of elements in the container.

Clear:

The entire contents of the container are removed with this function.

Begin:

An iterator can be brought to the container's beginning using this function.

End:

This procedure is used to get an iterator to the container's end.

Front:

This function is used to get a reference to the first element in the container.

Back:

This function is used to get a reference or pointer to the last element in the container.

Conclusion:

Sequence Containers are an essential part of the Standard Template Library in C++. They provide a way to store elements in a particular order, and they allow for efficient random access to elements. Sequence Containers are implemented as dynamic arrays, linked lists, and arrays of fixed-size elements, and they provide several functions for manipulating elements.