How do I use allocator-aware containers in C++?

In C++, allocator-aware containers are part of the Standard Template Library (STL) and allow for custom memory management and object allocation strategies. These containers, such as std::vector, std::list, and std::map, can utilize user-defined allocators. This feature is particularly useful in scenarios where memory allocation needs to be optimized for performance or specific use cases.

Using Allocator-Aware Containers

To use allocator-aware containers, you simply need to define your allocator and then specify it as a template argument when declaring the container. Here is a basic example of using a custom allocator with std::vector.

#include <iostream> #include <vector> #include <memory> template<typename T> class MyAllocator { public: using value_type = T; MyAllocator() = default; template<typename U> MyAllocator(const MyAllocator<U>&) {} T* allocate(std::size_t n) { std::cout << "Allocating " << n << " element(s)." << std::endl; return static_cast<T*>(::operator new(n * sizeof(T))); } void deallocate(T* p, std::size_t) { std::cout << "Deallocating memory." << std::endl; ::operator delete(p); } }; int main() { std::vector<int, MyAllocator<int>> vec; vec.push_back(1); vec.push_back(2); vec.push_back(3); for (const auto &val : vec) { std::cout << val << " "; } return 0; }

Keywords: Allocator-Aware Containers C++ std::vector Custom Allocator STL Memory Management