C++ - List Part 5: Practical Use Cases and Best Practices

Lists are ideal for specific use cases like frequent insertions/deletions, managing ordered data, and implementing dynamic collections.

Examples and Explanation

Queue Implementation

myList.push_back(10); // Enqueue

myList.pop_front();   // Dequeue

Explanation: Use push_back() and pop_front() to implement a queue using a list.

Managing Sorted Data

myList.sort();

myList.insert(std::upper_bound(myList.begin(), myList.end(), 15), 15);

Explanation: Lists can maintain sorted order using sort() and insertion with iterators.

Custom Data Structures

struct Point {

    int x, y;

};

std::list<Point> points = {{1, 2}, {3, 4}};

Explanation: Lists can store complex data types like structs or objects, making them versatile for advanced applications.

Optimizing for Memory

myList.shrink_to_fit();

Explanation: Although lists are dynamically managed, shrink_to_fit() can optimize memory usage.