How do I provide stable iteration order with std::vector in performance-sensitive code?

In performance-sensitive C++ applications, providing a stable iteration order when using std::vector is crucial. This ensures that the elements are processed in a predictable sequence, which can be important for algorithms that rely on sorted data or consistent data access patterns. By default, std::vector maintains the order of elements as they are added, so using it properly can lead to improved performance.

Key practices include avoiding unnecessary insertions and deletions which can lead to shifts in element positions. Instead, you can utilize methods like std::sort() or std::stable_sort() which maintain the stability of the relative order of equivalent elements if sorting is necessary.

Here’s an example demonstrating how to use std::vector while ensuring a stable iteration order:

#include <iostream> #include <vector> #include <algorithm> int main() { std::vector numbers = {5, 3, 4, 3, 2, 1}; // Sort the numbers while keeping the order of equivalent elements stable std::stable_sort(numbers.begin(), numbers.end()); // Iterating over the vector for (const auto& num : numbers) { std::cout << num << " "; } return 0; }

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