Question

How does a set differentiate between objects in both Java and C++? Or do sets not differentiate them at all?

Take these for example:
C++

std::set<A> aset;
A a(1, 2); // Assume A has only two elements, and this constructor sets them both
aset.insert(a);
A a2(1, 2); // This would initialise a `A' object to the same values as `a', but a different object
aset.count(a2); // Would this return 1 or 0?

Java

set<A> aset;
A a = new A(1, 2); // Assume A has only two elements, and this constructor sets them both
aset.add(a);
A a2 = new A(1, 2); // This would initialise a `A' object to the same values as `a', but a different object
aset.contains(a2); // Would this return true or false?

Answer 1

In C++ the set depends on operator<() being defined for the class A, or that you supply a comparison object providing strict weak ordering to the set.