The C++ Standard Library

A Practical C++17 Standard Library Companion

For many working C++ programmers, the standard library is both a daily asset and a large, evolving space. This second edition by Rainer Grimm is organized as a quick reference, not a comprehensive deep dive, which makes it especially useful when you need to confirm a detail, remember a function name, or see how a component fits into the larger library picture.

Core Library Components at Your Fingertips

The book walks through the foundational pieces every professional may need to recall quickly:

• Function adaptors and utility types such as std::any, std::optional, and std::variant
• Container interfaces across sequential, associative, and container adaptors
• Algorithms including modern execution policies and parallel options
• String handling and regular expressions for text-heavy work
• Input and output streams for user-defined types

Code as the Main Explanatory Tool

Each topic is paired with short examples that keep theory grounded. Rather than lengthy prose, the book uses concise code snippets to show how individual parts of the standard library behave in practice. The approach helps bridge the gap between knowing that a component exists and actually using it correctly in real code.

Who Gets the Most from This Book

The introduction is direct: this reference assumes you already know C++. If you are comfortable with the core language and want a faster path through the standard library, this edition provides a focused update. Readers new to C++ should start with a core-language text first, then use this book as the next step.

Why a Focused Reference Works

With C++17 spanning more than 1,600 pages, a distilled guide can save real time. Instead of searching through the full standard, you can locate relevant sections quickly and see them demonstrated in context. For professionals who regularly use containers, algorithms, strings, or streams, this edition offers a swift way to confirm details and continue coding.