C++ Handbook

All Container Adapters

All Container Adapters

A compact index of stack, queue, and priority_queue along with the core behavioral differences that matter in practice.

How to use this reference page

Use reference pages to confirm names, categories, nearby facilities, and the constraints that matter before writing or reviewing code.

  • Scan the top of the page first to identify the primary types, functions, or algorithm families involved.
  • Use the nearby-page links when your question is really about a companion header, related algorithm family, or broader subsystem.
  • Validate tricky behavior with a small compileable example before relying on memory for details like invalidation, ordering, allocation, or lifetime rules.

All Container Adapters

Standard container adapters

Core behavior

Common operations

Practical rules

Example in practice

#include <map>
#include <string>

int main() {
    std::map<std::string, int> counts{std::pair{"Ada", 1}, std::pair{"Bjarne", 2}};
    auto [it, inserted] = counts.insert({"Grace", 3});
    return inserted ? it->second : 1;
}