C++ Standard Library Quick Reference

This quick reference is a condensed reference guide to the essential data structures, algorithms, and functions provided by the C++ Standard Library. Used by millions of C++ programmers on a daily basis, the C++ Standard Library features core classes for strings, I/O streams, and various generic containers, as well as a comprehensive set of algorithms to manipulate them. In recent years, the C++11 and C++14 standards have added even more efficient container classes, a new powerful regular expression library, and a portable multithreading library featuring threads, mutexes, condition variables, and atomic variables.

Needless to say, it is hard to know and remember all the possibilities, details, and intricacies of this vast and growing library. This handy reference guide is therefore indispensable to any C++ programmer. It offers a condensed, well-structured summary of all essential aspects of the C++ Standard Library. No page-long, repetitive examples or obscure, rarely used features. Instead, everything you need to know and watch out for in practice is outlined in a compact, to-the-point style, interspersed with practical tips and well-chosen, clarifying examples. The book does not explain the C++ language or syntax, but is accessible to anyone with basic C++ knowledge or programming experience. Even the most experienced C++ programmer though will learn a thing or two from it and find it a useful memory-aid. Among the topics covered are:

• The essentials that the C++ Standard Library has to offer
• How to use containers to efficiently store and retrieve your data
• How to use algorithms to inspect and manipulate your data
• How lambda expressions allow for elegant use of algorithms
• What the standard string class provides and how to use it
• How to write localized applications
• What functionality the library provides for file and stream-based I/O
• What smart pointers are and how to use them to prevent memory leaks
• How to write safe and efficient multi-threaded code using the C++11 threading libraries

Who this book is for

The book is targeted at all C++ programmers: irrespective of their proficiency with the language or the Standard Library, this book offers an indispensable reference and memory-aid.

A secondary audience is developers who are new to C++, but not new to programming, and who want to learn more on the C++ Standard Library in a quick, condensed manner.

About the Authors

Marc Gregoire is a software engineer from Belgium. He graduated from the University of Leuven, Belgium, with a degree in “Burgerlijk ingenieur in de computer wetenschappen” (equivalent to Master of Science in engineering in computer science). The year after, he received the cum laude degree of master in artificial intelligence at the same university. After his studies, Marc started working for a software consultancy company called Ordina Belgium. As a consultant, he worked for Siemens and Nokia Siemens Networks on critical 2G and 3G software running on Solaris for telecom operators. This required working in international teams stretching from South America and USA to EMEA and Asia. Now, Marc is working for Nikon Metrology on industrial 3D laser scanning software. His main expertise is C/C++, and specifically Microsoft VC++ and the MFC framework. He has experience in developing C++ programs running 24x7 on Windows and Linux platforms; for example, KNX/EIB home automation software. Next to C/C++, Marc also likes C# and uses PHP for creating web pages. Since April 2007, he received the yearly Microsoft MVP (Most Valuable Professional) award for his Visual C++ expertise. Marc is the founder of the Belgian C++ Users Group, author of Professional C++ and a member on the CodeGuru forum (as Marc G).

Peter Van Weert is a Belgian software engineer, whose main interests and expertise are programming languages, algorithms, and data structures. He received his master of science in computer science summa cum laude with congratulations of the Board of Examiners from the University of Leuven. In 2010, he completed his PhD thesis on the design and efficient compilation of rule based programming languages at the declarative programming languages and artificial intelligence department of the same university. During his doctoral studies, he was a teaching assistant for object-oriented programming (Java), software analysis and design, and declarative programming. After graduating, Peter joined Nikon Metrology to work on large-scale, industrial application software in the area of 3D laser scanning and point cloud inspection. At Nikon, he has mastered C++, refactoring and debugging of very large code bases, and has gained further proficiency in all aspects of the software development process, including the analysis of functional and technical requirements, and agile and scrum-based project and team management. In his spare time, he has co-authored two award-winning Windows 8 apps, and is a regular speaker at and board member of the Belgian C++ Users Group.