All Sequence-Container Modifier Operations

All Sequence-Container Modifier Operations

A compact scan page for the core insertion, erase, resize, and structural modifier operations shared across sequence containers.

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 Sequence-Container Modifier Operations

Common modifier families

push_back
push_front where supported
emplace_back
emplace_front where supported
insert
emplace
erase
clear
resize
assign
swap

Container-specific highlights

vector and deque support indexed insertion/erase around iterator positions
list and forward_list support splice-like or before-iterator workflows
array has fixed size, so structural growth/shrink operations do not exist

Practical rules

Modifier operations can invalidate iterators and references depending on container type.
Prefer emplacement only when it meaningfully avoids extra temporaries or improves clarity.
Reserve capacity in vector when repeated growth is predictable.

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;
}