Re: vector swap time complexity

From:
Victor Bazarov <v.Abazarov@comAcast.net>
Newsgroups:
comp.lang.c++
Date:
Tue, 15 Sep 2009 08:33:19 -0400
Message-ID:
<h8o1ig$l8f$1@news.datemas.de>
thomas wrote:

vector<int> A(2,0);
vector<int> B(3,0);
A.swap(B);
swap(A, B);
------------code------------

for simple "int" structure, the time complexity of "swap(&int,&int)"
is simply O(1);


Actually, for any type T vector<T>.swap(othervector) has complexity of
O(1) - the data storages and other fields are exchanged between the
objects, no data outside of the actual 'vector<T>' object moves.

but how about "swap" between two "vector" or "map"?
can it be still O(1)?


I am fairly certain that 'std::swap' is overloaded for vectors (and all
other standard containers) to call the member function 'swap' (which
will do the swap quickly). So, std::swap<std::vector<T> > is also of
O(1) complexity.

I think it can be O(1) since the implementation of "&" is similar to
"pointer", so swap can be done between two "pointers".


No particular implementation of references is mandated. What makes you
believe that it's <<similar to "pointer">>? There is no way in the
language to "reseat" a reference. What would the implementation of
'std::swap' look like without that ability? Or do you think there is
some magic (assembly) trick the library implementors perform?

But I don't know what exactly the designers think. Any comments?


I don't know what exactly the designers think either.

V
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