C++'s Standard Template Library is revolutionary, but until now, learning to use it well has been a challenge. In this book, best-selling author Scott Meyers exposes critical rules of thumb experts use to get the most out of STL. Using the same clear, concise approach that made Effective C++ so successful, he shows developers exactly how to unravel STL's complexities -- and leverage its full power.KEY TOPICS:The book is organized into 50 guidelines, each followed by specific examples and to-the-point explanations. Meyers offers advice on what should be done, and why -- and what should not be done, and why not. Effective STL offers in-depth coverage of iterators, containers, allocators, string implementation, function objects, algorithms, equality, equivalence, and more. Discover how to choose among standard, non-standard, and non-STL containers; how to properly use algorithms and member functions that have the same names but subtly different behaviors; how to avoid potential portability problems; and how to maximize the efficiency of both the STL and the programs that use it.MARKET:An essential resource for all C++ programmers.