5.6. Unordered Sets

An unordered_set is an unordered collection of zero or more unique C++ data values of a particular type. To use unordered_sets, you import unordered_set from the Standard template library with #include <unorderd_set>.

Unordered_sets allow for fast retrieval of individual elements based on their value. In an unordered_set, the value of an element is at the same time its key, that identifies it uniquely. Keys are immutable, therefore, the elements in an unordered_set cannot be modified once in the container - However, they can be inserted and removed.

Unordered sets do not allow duplicates and are initialized using comma-delimited values enclosed in curly braces. The collection can be assigned to a variable as shown below.

set<int> mySet = {3, 6, 4, 78, 10}

Unordered sets support a number of methods that should be familiar to those who have worked with sets in a mathematics setting. Table 6 provides a summary. Examples of their use follow.

Table 6: Methods Provided by Sets in C++

Method Name

Use

Explanation

union

set_union()

Returns a new set with all elements from both sets

intersection

set_intersection()

Returns a new set with only those elements common to both sets

difference

set_difference()

Returns a new set with all items from first set not in second

add

aset.insert(item)

Adds item to the set

remove

aset.erase(item)

Removes item from the set

clear

aset.clear()

Removes all elements from the set

The code below is an example of a program that can detect if a specific char is in an unordered set.

the find method used for a conditional in Checker compares each item in the set with the given parameter until there is a match. the set.find(letter) == set.end() section means that if find cannot find the letter before reaching the end of the set, then letter is not contained in the set.

5.6.1. Matching

5.7. Summary

  1. A statically allocated C++ array is an ordered collection of one or more C++ data values of identical type stored in contiguous memory.

  2. A vector is a dynamically allocated array with many useful methods. It is more similar to the Python list than the array.

  3. C++ strings are a sequential collection of zero or more characters. They are very similar to Python strings.

  4. A hash table is used to store keys-value pairs. It applies a related hash function to the key in order to compute the location of the associated value. Look-up is typically very fast.

  5. A set is an unordered collection of unique values.

5.8. Check Yourself

You have attempted of activities on this page