C++C++11C++14C++17C++20Learn C++

What Is The Queue (std::queue) In Modern C++?

What Is The Queue stdqueue In Modern C++

The most powerful data storage arrays in Modern C++ are Containers and they are very useful to iterate and search members with their amazing methods and properties. A container is a holder object that stores data elements (a collection of data objects). std::vector, std::array, std::list are these kinds of containers. There is another useful container std::queue that allows you to add members to the back of the member list efficiently. In this post, we explain what std::queue is and give some examples. Before that let’s remind ourselves what containers are in C++ programming and what are their types.

What is a container in modern C++?

Containers are modern data storage arrays in modern C++ and they are very useful to iterate and search data with their powerful methods and properties.

A container is a holder object that stores data elements (a collection of data objects). They are implemented as a class template to define objects that can be used with modern rules of C++ (The rule of 6), they allow great flexibility in the different data types supported as elements, they can be used with int, float, double, etc. or with struct types, they can be used with other modern types of C++, lambdas and templates. Thus, the developer can create different data sets in memory, these can be static or dynamic, they are safe and optimized well.

What are the basic container types modern C++?

The C++ Standards library defines 4 container types. 

  • Sequence Containers ( vector, array, deque, list, forward_list )
  • Associative Containers ( map, multimap, set, multiset )
  • Unordered Associative Containers ( unordered_map, unordered_multimap, unordered_set, unordered_multiset )
  • Container Adapters  ( stack, queue, priority_queue )

If you want to learn more about these each type, here are some basic details,

What is the queue (std::queue) in modern C++?

In programming, a queue is an abstract data type in which members are stored in a container sequence and new members can be added to the end of the sequence and the first member can be extracted.

In C++, the Queue (std::queue) is a container adapter that defined in <queue> header and can be used in FIFO (First In First Out) data operations where members are inserted into one end of the container and extracted from the other.

The Queue is a class that uses an encapsulated object of a specific container class as its underlying container that members are pushed into the back of the specific data container and members are popped from its front of specific data container.

Is there a simple example about the Queue (std::queue) in modern C++?

Here is an example how you can define and add new members to the back of std::queue.

Here is another example how you can delete members from front and back;

Is there a simple example of how to use the queue (std::queue) in C++?

Here is a full example about std::queue,

and the output will be as below:

Note that, if we want to compare std::queue and std::deque, the queue (std:queue) container adaptors follow the FIFO (First In First Out) rule, where the element that is inserted first is the one that gets removed first.  However, the deque (std:deque) does not follow FIFO rule and you can add new members to the front or back of the container.

There is also concurrent queue in modern C++. For more details about Concurrent Queue feature in C++, please see this paper; p0260r7

What Is The Queue stdqueue In Modern C++ C++ Builder logo

C++ Builder is the easiest and fastest C and C++ compiler and IDE for building simple or professional applications on the Windows operating system. It is also easy for beginners to learn with its wide range of samples, tutorials, help files, and LSP support for code. RAD Studio’s C++ Builder version comes with the award-winning VCL framework for high-performance native Windows apps and the powerful FireMonkey (FMX) framework for UIs.

There is a free C++ Builder Community Edition for students, beginners, and startups; it can be downloaded from here. For professional developers, there are Professional, Architect, or Enterprise versions of C++ Builder and there is a trial version you can download from here.

Oh hi there 👋
It’s nice to meet you.

Sign up to receive awesome C++ content in your inbox, every day.

We don’t spam! Read our privacy policy for more info.


Reduce development time and get to market faster with RAD Studio, Delphi, or C++Builder.
Design. Code. Compile. Deploy.
Start Free Trial

Free C++Builder Community Edition

About author

Dr. Yilmaz Yoru has 35+ years of coding with more than 30+ programming languages, mostly C++ on Windows, Android, Mac-OS, iOS, Linux, and some other operating systems. He graduated and received his MSc and PhD degrees from the Department of Mechanical Engineering of Eskisehir Osmangazi University. He is the founder and CEO of ESENJA LLC Company. His interests are Programming, Thermodynamics, Fluid Mechanics, Artificial Intelligence, 2D & 3D Designs, and high-end innovations.
Related posts
C++C++11C++14C++17C++20Introduction to C++Learn C++

Learn Copy Constructors in C++ Classes

C++C++11C++14C++17Introduction to C++Learn C++Syntax

Learn How To Use Types Of Destructors In C++?

C++C++11C++14Learn C++Syntax

How To Convert u32string To A wstring In C++

C++C++11C++14C++17C++20Introduction to C++Learn C++

How To Learn The Move Constructors In Modern C++?