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c++setcomparatorstd-pair

How to create a std::set with custom comparator in C++?


How do I create a set of pairs, the elements of which (the pairs) are sorted with a custom bool function? I write

set <pair<int,int>,compare> myset;

and get error : Type/value mismatch at argument 2, expected a type, got "compare"

I have defined "compare" as

bool compare(pair <int,int> g1, pair <int,int> g2)
{
    return (g1.second-g1.first > g2.second-g2.first);
}

and of course

#include <vector>
#include <set>

Solution

  • Method 1: use functor

    Write a class that overloads the operator()so it can be called like a function:

    struct compare {
        bool operator() (const pair<int,int> &lhs, const pair<int,int> &rhs) const{
             return (lhs.second-lhs.first > rhs.second-rhs.first);
        }
    };
    

    Then, you can use the class name as the type parameter

    set<pair<int,int>, compare> myset;
    

    Method 2: use function pointer

    Assuming compare is the function you want to use:

    set<pair<int,int>, bool(*)(const pair<int,int> &lhs, 
                               const pair<int,int> &rhs)
       > myset(&compare);