Best practices

The elegance of the C++ STL lies in its vast array of utilities and its potential for optimization. However, merely knowing the algorithms isn’t the endgame. How you use them, combine them, and make subtle decisions can spell the difference between an efficient program and a sluggish one. So, let’s delve into the best practices, ensuring that your forays into STL are correct and performed at peak efficiency:

• Know your data: Before choosing any algorithm, you need to assess the nature of your data. Is it mostly sorted or completely random? Is it sparse or densely populated? The answers to these questions can dictate the choice of algorithm. For instance, using std::binary_search on a mostly sorted array may be counterproductive when std::find can serve the purpose with less overhead.
• Leverage the sorted nature of your data structures: On the topic of sorted data, always leverage the sorted nature of your data structures wherever possible. Sorted...