Deep dive into C++ STLs — unordered_map by Kalpan Mukherjee Medium from medium.com
Introduction
Maps are an important part of C++ programming language. They allow you to store and manipulate data in an efficient manner. In this article, we will discuss maps in C++ with the help of Javatpoint. We will cover everything from the basics of maps to their implementation in C++.
What are Maps in C++?
A map is a data structure that allows you to store data in pairs. Each pair consists of a key and a value. The key is used to access the value, and each key is unique. Maps are also known as associative arrays, dictionaries, or hash tables.
How to Declare and Define Maps in C++
To declare a map in C++, you need to use the `map` keyword followed by the data types of the key and value. For example: ```c++ map myMap; ``` This declares a map named `myMap` with keys of the string data type and values of the int data type. You can also define a map at the same time you declare it. For example: ```c++ map myMap = { {"apple", 5}, {"banana", 3}, {"orange", 7} }; ``` This defines a map named `myMap` with three pairs of keys and values.
How to Access Elements in a Map
To access an element in a map, you need to use the square bracket notation `[]` with the key. For example: ```c++ myMap["apple"] // returns 5 ``` You can also use the `find` function to access an element in a map. For example: ```c++ auto it = myMap.find("apple"); if (it != myMap.end()) { cout << it->second; // prints 5 } ```
How to Add Elements to a Map
To add an element to a map, you need to use the square bracket notation `[]` with the key and assign a value to it. For example: ```c++ myMap["pear"] = 2; ``` This adds a pair with the key "pear" and value 2 to the map.
How to Remove Elements from a Map
To remove an element from a map, you need to use the `erase` function with the key. For example: ```c++ myMap.erase("banana"); ``` This removes the pair with the key "banana" from the map.
Advantages of Using Maps in C++
Efficient Searching
Maps provide efficient searching of elements based on the key. This is because maps are implemented as binary search trees or hash tables.
Flexibility
Maps are flexible in terms of the data types of the key and value. You can use any data type as the key or value as long as it is supported by C++.
Easy to Use
Maps are easy to use and provide a simple interface for storing and accessing data.
FAQs
Q: Can I have duplicate keys in a map?
No, each key in a map must be unique. If you try to add a key that already exists, the value associated with that key will be overwritten.
Q: How are maps implemented in C++?
Maps are implemented as binary search trees or hash tables in C++.
Q: Can I use custom objects as keys in a map?
Yes, you can use custom objects as keys in a map as long as they implement the less than operator `<`.
Conclusion
Maps are an important data structure in C++ programming language. They allow you to store and manipulate data efficiently. With the help of Javatpoint, you can easily learn maps in C++ and take advantage of their benefits. We hope this article has provided you with a good understanding of maps in C++.