How to use a priority queue in C++?

A priority queue is a dynamically resizing container adapter in the C++ Standard Library. Elements in a priority queue are arranged in non-decreasing order such that the first element is always the greatest element in the queue.

Below are the constructors for a priority queue:

1. Empty priority queue

priority_queue<data_type> name;

2. Constructor with range input

priority_queue<data_type> name(iterator_begin,iterator_end);

The range includes all the elements between iterator_begin and iterator_end, including the element pointed by iterator_begin but not the element pointed by iterator_end

3. Constructor with comparison and container objects

priority_queue<data_type, container_object, comparison_object> name //after name, the container can be initialized empty or with a range input

The parameter comparison is used to order the heap. It may be a function pointer or function object capable of comparisons and must have two arguments.
The container object is by default a vector.

Example:

#include <queue>
#include <iostream>

using namespace std;

int main()
{
    priority_queue<int> q1; //empty

    int arr[]= {1,2,3,4,5};
    priority_queue<int> q2(arr,arr+5); //range constructor

    cout<<"Q2: "<<endl;
    while (!q2.empty())
    {
        cout<<q2.top()<<" ";
        q2.pop();
    }
    cout<<endl;

    priority_queue<int, vector<int>, greater<int> > q3;
    q3.push(3);
    q3.push(5);
    q3.push(1);

    cout<<"Q3: "<<endl;
    while (!q3.empty())
    {
        cout<<q3.top()<<" ";
        q3.pop();
    }

    return 0;
}

Output:

Q2:
5  4  3  2  1
Q3:
1  3  5

Here are various methods associated with priority queues in the C++ Standard Library

1. priority_queue::empty: Test whether priority queue is empty
2. priority_queue::size: Return number of elements in the container
3. priority_queue::top: Access the top i.e. first element
4. priority_queue::push: Insert element
5. priority_queue::pop: Remove the top element
6. priority_queue::emplace: Construct and insert element
7. priority_queue::swap: Swap contents of two containers

Example:

#include <queue>
#include <iostream>

using namespace std;

void printq(priority_queue<int> q)
{
    while (!q.empty()) //using empty
    {
        cout<<q.top()<<" "; //accessing top element
        q.pop(); //removing top element
    }
    
}

int main()
{
    priority_queue<int> q; 

    
    q.push(1); //pushing values
    q.push(8);
    q.push(7);
    q.push(3);
    q.push(2);
    
    cout<<"Size of Q: "<<q.size()<<endl; //size 
    

    cout<<"Q: "<<endl;
    printq(q);
    
    priority_queue<int> r;
    
    r.emplace(1);
    r.emplace(2);
    r.emplace(3);
    cout<<"\nR: \n";
    printq(r);
    
    q.swap(r);
    
    cout<<"\nQ:  "<<endl;
    printq(q);
    
    cout<<"\nR:  "<<endl;
    printq(r);

    return 0;
}

Output:

Size of Q: 5
Q: 
8 7 3 2 1 
R: 
3 2 1 
Q:  
3 2 1 
R:  
8 7 3 2 1