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c++priority-queuemin-heap

Priority queue for user-defined types

I have the below struct:

struct node {
   float val;
   int count;
}

I have several objects of this struct. Now, I want to insert these objects into a priority queue of STL such that the priority queue orders the items by count. Any idea on how to do so? Preferably a min-heap is preferred. I know how to do the above for primitive data types, not structs

Solution

  • Overload the < operator:

    bool operator<(const node& a, const node& b) {
  return a.count > b.count;
}

    I have reversed the comparison to achieve min heap without passing extra arguments to the priority queue. Now you use it like this:

    priority_queue<node> pq;
...

    Edit: take a look at this post which seems to be almost exact duplicate: STL Priority Queue on custom class