Copying and moving in STL containers
The STL in C++ is known for its robust data structures and algorithms. Among its most fundamental aspects are the operations of copying and moving containers. These operations are not only crucial for data manipulation but also play a significant role in the efficiency and performance of C++ applications. This section explores the nuances of copying and moving within the STL, exploring their semantics, implications on performance, and the strategic decision-making involved in choosing one over the other.
Copying semantics in the STL
Copying, in the most rudimentary sense, refers to creating a replica of an object. In the STL, when you copy a container, you duplicate its contents into a new one. One way to visualize this is to imagine photocopying a document. The original remains unchanged, and you have a new document with the same content.
For instance, consider the following:
std::vector<int> original{1, 2, 3};
std::vector<...
