C++ named requirements: AssociativeContainer

An AssociativeContainer is an ordered Container that provides fast lookup of objects based on keys.

An associative container supports unique keys if it may contain at most one element for each key. Otherwise, it supports equivalent keys.

Requirements

Legend
`X`	A associative container class
`T`	The element type of `X`
`A`	The allocator type of `X`: `X::allocator_type` if it exists, otherwise std::allocator<X::value_type>
a	A value of type `X`
a2	A value of a type `Y` whose node handles are compatible with `X`
b	A value of type `X` or const X
u	A name of a variable beging declared
a_uniq	A value of type `X` when `X` supports unique keys
a_eq	A value of type `X` when `X` supports equivalent keys
a_tran	A value of type `X` or const X when type `X::key_compare::is_transparent` exists
i, j	The LegacyInputIterators referring to elements implicitly convertible to `X::value_type`
`[`i`,` j`)`	A valid range
rg (since C++23)	A value of a type `R` that models `container-compatible-range<value_type>`
p	A valid constant iterator to a
q	A valid dereferenceable constant iterator to a
r	A valid dereferenceable iterator to a
q1, q2	A valid range of const iterators in a
il	An object of type std::initializer_list<X::value_type>
t	A value of type `X::value_type`
k	A value of type `X::key_type`
c	A value of type `X::key_compare` or const X::key_compare
kl	A value such that a is partitioned with respect to c(x, kl), with x the key value of e and e in a
ku	A value such that a is partitioned with respect to !c(ku, x), with x the key value of e and e in a
ke	A value such that a is partitioned with respect to c(x, ke) and !c(ke, x), with c(x, ke) implying !c(ke, x) and with x the key value of e and e in a
kx (since C++23)	A value such that: a is partitioned with respect to c(x, kx) and !c(kx, x), with c(x, kx) implying !c(kx, x) and with x the key value of e and e in a, and kx is not convertible to either `X::iterator` or `X::const_iterator`
m	An allocator of a type convertible to `A`
nh	A non-const rvalue of type `X::node_type`

The type X satisfies AssociativeContainer if

The type X satisfies Container (until C++11)AllocatorAwareContainer (since C++11),
Is parameterized on Key and an ordering relation Compare that induces a strict weak ordering on elements of Key, and
- In addition, std::map and std::multimap associate an arbitrary mapped type T with the Key.
- The object of type Compare is called the comparison object of a container of type X.
The following expressions must be valid and have their specified effects for all associative containers:

Types

Name	Type	Requirements
`key_type`	`Key`
`mapped_type`	`T` (for std::map and std::multimap only)
`value_type`	`Key` (for std::set and std::multiset only) std::pair<const Key, T>(for std::map and std::multimap only)	Erasable from `X`
`key_compare`	`Compare`	CopyConstructible
`value_compare`	same as `key_compare` (for std::set and std::multiset) an ordering relation on pairs induced by the first component (i.e. `Key`) (for std::map and std::multimap)	BinaryPredicate
`node_type`	A specialization of the node-handle class template, such that the public nested types are the same types as the corresponding types in `X`.

Member functions and operators

Expression	Result	Preconditions	Effects	Returns	Complexity
X(c)			Constructs an empty container. Uses a copy of c as a comparison object		Constant
X u = X(); X u;		`key_compare` meets the DefaultConstructible requirements	Constructs an empty container. Uses Compare() as a comparison object		Constant
X(i, j, c)		`value_type` is EmplaceConstructible into `X` from *i	Constructs an empty container and inserts elements from the range `[`i`,` j`)` into it; uses c as a comparison object		N·log(N) in general, where `N` has the value std::distance(i, j); linear if `[`i`,` j`)` is sorted with respect to value_comp()
X(i, j)		`key_compare` meets the DefaultConstructible requirements. `value_type` is EmplaceConstructible into `X` from *i	Constructs an empty container and inserts elements from the range `[`i`,` j`)` into it; uses Compare() as a comparison object
X(from_range, rg, c) (since C++23)		`value_type` is EmplaceConstructible into `X` from *ranges::begin(rg)	Constructs an empty container and inserts each element from rg into it. Uses c as the comparison object		N·log(N) in general, where `N` has the value ranges::distance(rg); linear if rg is sorted with respect to value_comp()
X(from_range, rg) (since C++23)		`key_compare` meets the DefaultConstructible requirements. `value_type` is EmplaceConstructible into `X` from *ranges::begin(rg)	Constructs an empty container and inserts each element from rg into it. Uses Compare() as the comparison object
X(il, c)			X(il.begin(), il.end(), c)
X(il)			X(il.begin(), il.end())
a = il	X&	`value_type` is CopyInsertable into `X` and CopyAssignable	Assigns the range `[`il.begin()`,` il.end()`)` into a. All existing elements of a are either assigned to or destroyed		N·log(N) in general, where `N` has the value il.size() + a.size(); linear if `[`il.begin()`,` il.end()`)` is sorted with respect to value_comp()
b.key_comp()	`X::key_compare`			The comparison object out of which b was constructed	Constant
b.value_comp()	`X::value_compare`			An object of `value_compare` constructed out of the comparison object	Constant
a_uniq.emplace(args)	std::pair< iterator, bool>	`value_type` is EmplaceConstructible into `X` from args	Inserts a `value_type` object t constructed with std::forward<Args>(args)... if and only if there is no element in the container with key equivalent to the key of t	The bool component of the returned pair is true if and only if the insertion takes place, and the iterator component of the pair points to the element with key equivalent to the key of t	Logarithmic
a_eq.emplace(args)	`iterator`	`value_type` is EmplaceConstructible into `X` from args	Inserts a `value_type` object t constructed with std::forward<Args>(args).... If a range containing elements equivalent to t exists in a_eq, t is inserted at the end of that range	An iterator pointing to the newly inserted element	Logarithmic
a.emplace_hint(p, args)	`iterator`		Equivalent to a.emplace( std::forward<Args>(args)...), except that the element is inserted as close as possible to the position just prior to p	An iterator pointing to the element with the key equivalent to the newly inserted element	Logarithmic in general, but amortized constant if the element is inserted right before p
a_uniq.insert(t)	std::pair< iterator, bool>	If t is a non-const rvalue, `value_type` is MoveInsertable into `X`; otherwise, `value_type` is CopyInsertable into `X`	Inserts t if and only if there is no element in the container with key equivalent to the key of t	The bool component of the returned pair is true if and only if the insertion takes place, and the `iterator` component of the pair points to the element with key equivalent to the key of t	Logarithmic
a_eq.insert(t)	`iterator`	If t is a non-const rvalue, `value_type` is MoveInsertable into `X`; otherwise, `value_type` is CopyInsertable into `X`	Inserts t and returns the iterator pointing to the newly inserted element. If a range containing elements equivalent to t exists in a_eq, t is inserted at the end of that range		Logarithmic
a.insert(p, t)	`iterator`	If t is a non-const rvalue, `value_type` is MoveInsertable into `X`; otherwise, `value_type` is CopyInsertable into `X`	Inserts t if and only if there is no element with key equivalent to the key of t in containers with unique keys; always inserts t in containers with equivalent keys. t is inserted as close as possible to the position just prior to p	An iterator pointing to the element with key equivalent to the key of t	Logarithmic in general, but amortized constant if t is inserted right before p
a.insert(i, j)	void	`value_type` is EmplaceConstructible into `X` from *i. Neither i nor j are iterators into a	Inserts each element from the range `[`i`,` j`)` if and only if there is no element with key equivalent to the key of that element in containers with unique keys; always inserts that element in containers with equivalent keys		N·log(a.size() + N), where `N` has the value std::distance(i, j)
a.insert_range(rg) (since C++23)	void	`value_type` is EmplaceConstructible into `X` from *ranges::begin(rg). rg and a do not overlap	Inserts each element from rg if and only if there is no element with key equivalent to the key of that element in containers with unique keys; always inserts that element in containers with equivalent keys		N·log(a.size() + N), where `N` has the value ranges::distance(rg)
a.insert(il)			a.insert(il.begin(), il.end())
a_uniq.insert(nh)	`insert_return_type`	nh is empty or a_uniq.get_allocator() == nh.get_allocator() is true	If nh is empty, has no effect. Otherwise, inserts the element owned by nh if and only if there is no element in the container with a key equivalent to nh.key()	If nh is empty, `inserted` is false, `position` is end(), and `node` is empty. Otherwise if the insertion took place, `inserted` is true, `position` points to the inserted element, and `node` is empty; if the insertion failed, `inserted` is false, `node` has the previous value of nh, and `position` points to an element with a key equivalent to nh.key()	Logarithmic
a_eq.insert(nh)	`iterator`	nh is empty or a_eq.get_allocator() == nh.get_allocator() is true	If nh is empty, has no effect and returns a_eq.end(). Otherwise, inserts the element owned by nh and returns an iterator pointing to the newly inserted element. If a range containing elements with keys equivalent to nh.key() exists in a_eq, the element is inserted at the end of that range. Ensures: nh is empty		Logarithmic
a.insert(p, nh)	`iterator`	nh is empty or a.get_allocator() == nh.get_allocator() is true	If nh is empty, has no effect and returns a.end(). Otherwise, inserts the element owned by nh if and only if there is no element with key equivalent to nh.key() in containers with unique keys; always inserts the element owned by nh in containers with equivalent keys. The element is inserted as close as possible to the position just prior to p. Ensures: nh is empty if insertion succeeds, unchanged if insertion fails	An iterator pointing to the element with key equivalent to nh.key()	Logarithmic in general, but amortized constant if the element is inserted right before p
a.extract(k)	`node_type`		Removes the first element in the container with key equivalent to k	A `node_type` owning the element if found, otherwise an empty `node_type`	log(a.size())
a_tran.extract(kx) (since C++23)	`node_type`		Removes the first element in the container with key r such that !c(r, kx) && !c(kx, r) is true	A `node_type` owning the element if found, otherwise an empty `node_type`	log(a_tran.size())
a.extract(q)	`node_type`		Removes the element pointed to by q	A `node_type` owning that element	Amortized constant
a.merge(a2)	void	a.get_allocator() == a2.get_allocator()	Attempts to extract each element in a2 and insert it into a using the comparison object of a. In containers with unique keys, if there is an element in a with key equivalent to the key of an element from a2, then that element is not extracted from a2. Ensures: Pointers and references to the transferred elements of a2 refer to those same elements but as members of a. Iterators referring to the transferred elements will continue to refer to their elements, but they now behave as iterators into a, not into a2. Throws: Nothing unless the comparison object throws		N·log(a.size() + N), where `N` has the value a2.size()
a.erase(k)	`size_type`		Erases all elements in the container with key equivalent to k	The number of erased elements	log(a.size()) + a.count(k)
a_tran.erase(kx) (since C++23)	`size_type`		Erases all elements in the container with key r such that !c(r, kx) && !c(kx, r) is true	The number of erased elements	log(a_tran.size()) + a_tran.count(kx)
a.erase(q)	`iterator`		Erases the element pointed to by q	An iterator pointing to the element immediately following q prior to the element being erased. If no such element exists, returns a.end()	Amortized constant
a.erase(r)	`iterator`		Erases the element pointed to by r	An iterator pointing to the element immediately following r prior to the element being erased. If no such element exists, returns a.end()	Amortized constant
a.erase(q1, q2)	`iterator`		Erases all the elements in the range `[`q1`,` q2`)`	An iterator pointing to the element pointed to by q2 prior to any elements being erased. If no such element exists, a.end() is returned	log(a.size()) + N, where `N` has the value std::distance(q1, q2)
a.clear()			a.erase(a.begin(), a.end()). Ensures: a.empty() is true		Linear in a.size()
b.find(k)	`iterator`; `const_iterator` for constant b			An iterator pointing to an element with the key equivalent to k, or b.end() if such an element is not found	Logarithmic
a_tran.find(ke)	`iterator`; `const_iterator` for constant a_tran			An iterator pointing to an element with key r such that !c(r, ke) && !c(ke, r) is true, or a_tran.end() if such an element is not found	Logarithmic
b.count(k)	`size_type`			The number of elements with key equivalent to k	log(b.size()) + b.count(k)
a_tran.count(ke)	`size_type`			The number of elements with key r such that !c(r, ke) && !c(ke, r)	log(a_tran.size()) + a_tran.count(ke)
b.contains(k)	bool		return b.find(k) != b.end();
a_tran.contains(ke)	bool		return a_tran.find(ke) != a_tran.end();
b.lower_bound(k)	`iterator`; `const_iterator` for constant b			An iterator pointing to the first element with key not less than k, or b.end() if such an element is not found	Logarithmic
a_tran.lower_bound(kl)	`iterator`; `const_iterator` for constant a_tran			An iterator pointing to the first element with key r such that !c(r, kl), or a_tran.end() if such an element is not found	Logarithmic
b.upper_bound(k)	`iterator`; `const_iterator` for constant b			An iterator pointing to the first element with key greater than k, or b.end() if such an element is not found	Logarithmic
a_tran.upper_bound(ku)	`iterator`; `const_iterator` for constant a_tran			An iterator pointing to the first element with key r such that c(ku, r), or a_tran.end() if such an element is not found	Logarithmic
b.equal_range(k)	std::pair< iterator, iterator>; std::pair< const_iterator, const_iterator> for constant b		Equivalent to: return std::make_pair( b.lower_bound(k), b.upper_bound(k));		Logarithmic
a_tran.equal_range(ke)	std::pair< iterator, iterator>; std::pair< const_iterator, const_iterator> for constant a_tran		Equivalent to: return std::make_pair( a_tran.lower_bound(ke), a_tran.upper_bound(ke));		Logarithmic

Iterators

Iterators of associative containers satisfy the requirements of LegacyBidirectionalIterator.

For associative containers where value_type is the same as key_type, both iterator and const_iterator are constant iterators. It is unspecified whether or not iterator and const_iterator are the same type.

Iterators of associative containers iterate through the containers in the non-descending order of keys where non-descending is defined by the comparison that was used to construct the containers. That is, given

a, an associative container
i and j, dereferenceable iterators to a.

If the distance from i to j is positive, then a.value_comp()(*j, *i) == false. Additionally, if a is an associative container with unique keys, the stronger condition a.value_comp()(*i, *j) != false holds.

Associative containers in the standard library

set	collection of unique keys, sorted by keys (class template)
multiset	collection of keys, sorted by keys (class template)
map	collection of key-value pairs, sorted by keys, keys are unique (class template)
multimap	collection of key-value pairs, sorted by keys (class template)

Defect reports

The following behavior-changing defect reports were applied retroactively to previously published C++ standards.

DR	Applied to	Behavior as published	Correct behavior
LWG 354	C++98	`lower_bound` and `upper_bound` did not return the end iterator if no element is found	they return the end iterator in this case
LWG 589	C++98	the elements that i and j refer to had the type `X::value_type`	the elements are implicitly convertible to `X::value_type`

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