This article is all about the C++ standard library! If you are working with the C++ programming language, knowing how to use all the predefined functions and where they come from is imperative.
The C++ standard library provides header files and functions we can use in our programs. The library is like a container for classes and functions. We will get into more detail about it in the following sections of the article.
So, without any further wait, let’s start!
Summary Of The Article:
The C++ standard library is like a container for all the classes, container classes, macros, entities, etc that we can use in our software.
Using the components of the standard library, we can optimize our code and make it more efficient.
We can include these components using the standard library headers that help to import all the functionalities in the program we are writing.
We can get the functionalities to implement almost every entity from strings to numbers and classes.
Overview Of The C++ Standard Library
The C++ programming language offers us a standard library that contains a collection of functions, classes, and templates. The programmers can use all these pre-written logic to make their software more modular and reusable.
From input-output operations to data manipulation tasks, the C++ standard library presents us with pre-defined and tested code for performing common tasks. If I have to say it in simple words, we are getting a library of code instead of books in this case!
The library provides us with coding implementation of various data structures and algorithms as well. Thus, we can develop efficient software with the help of the tools and resources provided by the C++ library.
Components Of The C++ Standard Library
Imagine yourself walking inside a huge library, what will you see? You will find different sections in the library for different genres and categories of books. Each category represents a certain type of content.
In the same way, the C++ standard library is also divided into components, each having a specific purpose. Let us get to know about them below!
Containers: These are the data structures that store and manage the collection of data in a specific manner, for example, vectors, lists, maps, etc.
Algorithms: Algorithms are functions that perform various operations on the data structures in a systematic way. You might have heard of the searching and sorting algorithms. These are also included in the standard library.
Iterators: These are the objects that provide us with access to manipulate elements stored within containers. Iterators allow us to traverse through the containers without dealing with the container-specific details.
Function Objects: These can also be called functors. They are objects that behave like functions. We can use function objects in algorithms to customize the behavior of the algorithms with the help of different parameters.
I/O Streams: I/O represents Input/Output. I/O streams provide us with reading and writing functionalities. In most cases, you need to store and get data from a particular file to process it. We can access these operations with the help of an I/O stream.
Strings and Numerics Library: This helps us to perform data manipulation tasks on strings through the string class. It also offers numeric functions or formulae like trigonometric or logarithmic functions etc. to perform computations.
Thread Support Library: The C++ standard library also provides us with facilities for thread support like thread creation, synchronization, atomic operations, etc.
Utilities: We are also offered a class template, functions, etc for tasks like memory management, exception handling, data and time manipulation, etc.
Now, let us get to know why is the standard library in C++ so important. Read below to know more!
Why Is C++ Standard Library Essential In Programming?
The standard C++ library has continued to evolve over the years, providing us with solutions and resources to implement complex data structures, algorithms, and different operations. Let us now see what importance it holds in the C++ programming language.
Reduced Coding: You do not need to write your code to perform common tasks. The predefined functions will take care of it. For example, we have the sqrt() function provided by the library to find out the square root of values while performing calculations.
Improved Maintainability:ย The code written with the help of the standard library is easier to understand and maintain. This is because it provides standardization and makes the whole code consistent across different compilers.
Enhanced Readability: If you use the components of the C++ library in your cpp file, you will get a more readable code. This is because the C++ library components have clear naming conventions and they are well-documented as well.
Efficiency and Performance: The standard C++ library offers components that are highly optimized implementations of various data structures, algorithms, utility functions, etc. This ensures that your code is more efficient in comparison to the custom implementations.
What Are The Standard Library Headers In C++?
In this section, we will get to know about the header files in C++. Just like how every library has sections for different genres of books, in the C++ programming language, the sections are defined by header files. Let us get to know about the C++ standard library headers in more detail!
Overview Of C++ Standard Library Headers
The header files in the C++ standard library contain the declarations and definitions for the functions, classes, templates, etc in the standard library. They allow us to use the C++ library facilities in our programs.
Where might these headers be saved on your operating system is compiler-specific, however, the users don’t need to know. The header files encapsulate the implementation details for the function object, class template, etc that we can use in our software.
For example, if we are writing a program for mathematical computations, we can include the header related to the code. This is how we can use or access the already implemented functions without needing to define them from scratch in our programs.
How To Include C++ Standard Library Headers In Our Program?
Including the standard library header files or headers is extremely easy. It is the first line of code you need to write to let the compiler know what to add to your code. The syntax for the same is given below.
#include <header_name>
All the header files will use the same declaration. The angular brackets (< >) indicate that the header file is a part of the standard library and not a user-defined library stored in a specific directory. Let us see some of the common header files provided by the C++ standard library.
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Common Headers In C++ And Their Uses
Below is a list of some of the commonly used headers C++ language support along with their purpose. By adding these to your C++ programs, you can use the already implemented functions or entities, thus, reducing coding. Let us understand them one by one!
<iostream>: It provides the functionalities to perform input and output tasks. Some of the classes that it contains are std::cin, std::cout, std::clog.
<cstdlib>: It is used for general-purpose utilities, dynamic memory allocation, etc.
<bitset>: It is used for std::bitset class template.
<cinttypes> (C++ 11): It is used for formatting macros and performing math and conversions.
<string>: This is used to define the std::string class for operations like string manipulation. If you are working with modifying a sequence of characters, including this is recommended.
<vector>: It has the declarations of the std::vector class. Vectors are dynamic arrays that can grow or shrink as per the needs. Thus, it helps in efficient memory management and storage.
<fstream>: Consider that you have to read or write in files. In that case, you should include this header in your project.
<cmath>: The cmath header file contains the declarations for mathematical formulae and functions like trigonometric functions, logarithmic functions, and more. Some of the common functions of this header are std::pow (finding the power to a number), std::sqrt (finding the square root), std::sin (Sine trigonometric function), etc.
<list>: It defines the std::list class that represents the doubly linked list data structure. It allows effective task implementation on lists like insertion and deletion of elements.
<initializer_lists> (C++ 11): It is used for the std::initializer_lists class template.
<tuple> (C++ 11): It is used for the std::tuple class template.
<variant>: It provides the std::variant class template.
<map> (C++ 11): It defines the std::map and the std::multimap associative containers. These containers match unique keys to values.
<unordered_map> (C++ 11): It defines the std::unordered_map and the std::unordered_multimap unordered associative containers. It stores the key-value pairs and provides fast accessibility using hash tables.
<set>: It defines the std::set container that stores a collection of unique elements in a sorted order.
<unordered_set> (C++ 11): It defines the std::unordered_set that stores unique elements that can be accessed using hash tables.
<cstddefs>: It is used for standard macros and typedefs.
<exception>: It is used for exception and error handling utilities.
<expected>: It is used for the std::expected class template.
<thread> (C++ 11): It offers us the facilities for thread creation and support libraries like managing threads.
Also, if you wish to know more aboutย C++ and its usesย then you can read our articleย to have a more clear understanding.
Conclusion:
Well, these were just some of the headers that the C and C++ libraries support. All of these have a specific function in software development. I hope that you have understood all the headers listed above.
For more C++ related articles, make sure that you check out our blog page at codingzap.com, and in case you have any queries, feel free to reach out to us. Our team of experts is dedicated to helping you!
Takeaways:
The C++ standard library includes the containers, classes, and library facilities that help us to improve and optimize our software.
Including the library functionalities helps us to reuse the pre-written code which is helpful for programmers as they don’t have to write everything from scratch.
While the standard C++ library is also a reference term for STL, the C++ standard library is like a toolkit that we can use for various purposes, and one set of tools is the STL – standard template library.
