Explore the full potential of C++ by mastering the standard library.

Become a C++ Programmer

The C++ standard library is a collection of all the tools and utilities available in C++. It received its latest update in 2017, known as C++17. The update introduces many new features that further optimize our code. This module will help us fully grasp C++ and use it to its full potential.

C++ Standard Library

### Iostream Library
[I/O streams library](https://www.educative.io/courses/cpp-standard-library-including-cpp-14-and-cpp-17/introduction-gk83XoKk5pZ) is a library, present from the beginning of C++, that allows communication with the outside world.

Communication means in this concrete case, that the extraction operator (`>>`) enables it to read formatted or unformatted data from the input stream, and the insertion operator (`<<`) enables it to write the data on the output stream. Data can be formatted using *manipulators*.

The stream classes have an elaborate class hierarchy. Two stream classes are significant: First, string streams allow you to interact with strings and streams. Second, file streams allow you to read and write files easily. The state of streams is kept in flags, which you can read and manipulate.

By overloading the input operator and output operator, your class can interact with the outside world like a fundamental data type.

### Filesystem Library
In contrast to the I/O streams library, [filesystem library](https://www.educative.io/courses/cpp-standard-library-including-cpp-14-and-cpp-17/filesystem-library) was added to the C++ Standard with C++17. The library is based on the three concepts file, file name, and path. Files can be directories, hard links, symbolic links or regular files. Paths can be absolute or relative.

The filesystem library supports a powerful interface for reading and manipulating the filesystem. 

In the next lesson, we will talk about multithreading. 

# Iostream Library
[I/O streams library](https://www.educative.io/courses/cpp-standard-library-including-cpp-14-and-cpp-17/introduction-gk83XoKk5pZ) is a library, present from the beginning of C++, that allows communication with the outside world.

Communication means in this concrete case, that the extraction operator (`>>`) enables it to read formatted or unformatted data from the input stream, and the insertion operator (`<<`) enables it to write the data on the output stream. Data can be formatted using *manipulators*.

The stream classes have an elaborate class hierarchy. Two stream classes are significant: First, string streams allow you to interact with strings and streams. Second, file streams allow you to read and write files easily. The state of streams is kept in flags, which you can read and manipulate.

By overloading the input operator and output operator, your class can interact with the outside world like a fundamental data type.

# Filesystem Library
In contrast to the I/O streams library, [filesystem library](https://www.educative.io/courses/cpp-standard-library-including-cpp-14-and-cpp-17/filesystem-library) was added to the C++ Standard with C++17. The library is based on the three concepts file, file name, and path. Files can be directories, hard links, symbolic links or regular files. Paths can be absolute or relative.

The filesystem library supports a powerful interface for reading and manipulating the filesystem. 

In the next lesson, we will talk about multithreading. 

C++17 builds upon the prominent I/O stream library but adding the new filesystem library.

The Standard Library

Overview

Application of Libraries

Useful Functions

Adaptors for Functions

Pairs and Tuples

Reference Wrappers

Smart Pointers

Type Traits

Time Library

std::any, std::optional, and std::variant

Containers in General

Sequential Containers

Associative Containers in General

Ordered Associative Containers

Unordered Associative Containers

Adaptors for Containers

Iterators

Callable Units

Algorithms

Non-Modifying Algorithms

Modifying Algorithms

More Algorithms

New Algorithms with C++17

Numeric

Strings

String View

Regular Expressions

Input and Output Streams

Conclusion

Input, Output and Filesystems

Iostream Library