1998 ANSI/ISO C ++ the standard consists of two parts: the main language and C ++ a common library; the last switches on the most part of the Common library (STL Template and little bit changed version of common library C. Majority C ++ libraries exists as what are not a standard part, and, using the specification of editing, libraries can even be written in languages, such as C, the FORTRAN, Pascal or the CORES.



C ++ the common library switches on common library C with some small modifications to force it to work better with C ++ language. Other most part C ++ library is grounded on STL. It provides such useful tools as containers (for example, vectors and lists), iterators to give to these containers access similar to set, and algorithms to fulfil operations, such as search and sorting. Besides maps (associative sets) and sets are given, all from which is exported by compatible interfaces. Therefore it is possible, using templates to write patrimonial algorithms which work with any container or on any sequence defined iterators. As well as in C, to features of library get access at usage #include the directive to switch on standard header. C ++ provides 69 standard headers from which 19 are condemned.


STL originally concerned the third party library from HP and later SGI, before its association in C ++ the standard. The standard does not access to it as "STL" as it - simply part of a common library, but is a lot of people still use that term to distinguish it from other part of library (input/production streams, internationalisation, diagnostics, library C subset etc.).



Majority C ++ compilers provide performance C ++ a common library, switching on STL. Also there is performance STL independent of the compiler, such as STLPort. Other projects also make various customs performance C ++ a common library and STL with the various purposes of the project.