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Asked: 2026-05-16T10:21:06+00:00

Let me start with explaining what I mean with magic. I will use two

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Let me start with explaining what I mean with “magic”. I will use two examples from Java:

  1. Every class inherits (directly or indirectly) the Object class.
  2. Operator overloading is not supported by Java but the + operator is defined for String objects.

This means that it is impossible to make an implementation of the Object and String classes in pure(*) Java. Now this is what I mean with “magic”: to make an implementation of these classes, you will need some special support from the compiler.

What I always liked about C++ is that, as far as I know, there is no such “magic” going on in the STL, i.e. it is possible to implement the STL in pure C++.

Now my question is: is this true? Or are there parts of the STL that cannot be implemented in pure C++ and need some “magic”/special compiler support?

(*) With “pure” I mean without using any class libraries.

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1 Answer

  1. Editorial Team

    in other words, has anything been done to the compiler to allow for a ‘special case’ the STL needed to work?

    No.

    It was all implemented as ‘pure’ C++ code, using the magic of templates.

    There has been some work done to compilers to improve the STL (I’m thinking about various optimisations) but otherwise, no, you could write the entire STL if you really wanted. Some people did – STLPort is an implementation that didn’t have the backing of any compiler manufacturer.

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