https://github.com/boostorg/poly_collection
Fast containers of polymorphic objects.
https://github.com/boostorg/poly_collection
boost containers cpp cpp11 polymorphism
Last synced: 3 months ago
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Fast containers of polymorphic objects.
- Host: GitHub
- URL: https://github.com/boostorg/poly_collection
- Owner: boostorg
- Created: 2016-11-06T10:13:27.000Z (over 8 years ago)
- Default Branch: develop
- Last Pushed: 2025-03-15T16:57:49.000Z (4 months ago)
- Last Synced: 2025-03-30T19:07:28.315Z (3 months ago)
- Topics: boost, containers, cpp, cpp11, polymorphism
- Language: C++
- Size: 3.27 MB
- Stars: 64
- Watchers: 7
- Forks: 28
- Open Issues: 3
-
Metadata Files:
- Readme: README.md
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README
# Boost PolyCollection library
[](https://github.com/boostorg/poly_collection/tree/master) [](https://github.com/boostorg/poly_collection/actions/workflows/ci.yml) [](https://drone.cpp.al/boostorg/poly_collection) [](https://ci.appveyor.com/project/joaquintides/poly-collection/branch/master) [](https://pdimov.github.io/boostdep-report/master/poly_collection.html) [](https://www.boost.org/doc/libs/master/doc/html/poly_collection.html) [](http://www.boost.org/development/tests/master/developer/poly_collection.html)
[](https://github.com/boostorg/poly_collection/tree/develop) [](https://github.com/boostorg/poly_collection/actions/workflows/ci.yml) [](https://drone.cpp.al/boostorg/poly_collection) [](https://ci.appveyor.com/project/joaquintides/poly-collection/branch/develop) [](https://pdimov.github.io/boostdep-report/develop/poly_collection.html) [](https://www.boost.org/doc/libs/develop/doc/html/poly_collection.html) [](http://www.boost.org/development/tests/develop/developer/poly_collection.html)
[](https://www.boost.org/users/license.html) 
**Boost.PolyCollection**: fast containers of polymorphic objects.
Typically, polymorphic objects cannot be stored *directly* in regular containers
and need be accessed through an indirection pointer, which introduces performance
problems related to CPU caching and branch prediction. Boost.PolyCollection
implements a
[novel data structure](http://www.boost.org/doc/html/poly_collection/an_efficient_polymorphic_data_st.html)
that is able to contiguously store polymorphic objects without such indirection,
thus providing a value-semantics user interface and better performance.
Three *polymorphic collections* are provided:
* [`boost::base_collection`](http://www.boost.org/doc/html/poly_collection/tutorial.html#poly_collection.tutorial.basics.boost_base_collection)
* [`boost::function_collection`](http://www.boost.org/doc/html/poly_collection/tutorial.html#poly_collection.tutorial.basics.boost_function_collection)
* [`boost::any_collection`](http://www.boost.org/doc/html/poly_collection/tutorial.html#poly_collection.tutorial.basics.boost_any_collection)
dealing respectively with classic base/derived or OOP polymorphism, function wrapping
in the spirit of `std::function` and so-called
[*duck typing*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duck_typing) as implemented by
[Boost.TypeErasure](http://www.boost.org/libs/type_erasure).
## Learn about Boost.PolyCollection
* [Online docs](http://boost.org/libs/poly_collection)
* [Seminal article at bannalia.blogspot.com](http://bannalia.blogspot.com/2014/05/fast-polymorphic-collections.html)
## Install Boost.PolyCollection
* [Download Boost](https://www.boost.org/users/download/) and you're ready to go (this is a header-only library requiring no building).
* Using Conan 2: In case you don't have it yet, add an entry for Boost in your `conanfile.txt` (the example requires at least Boost 1.86):
```
[requires]
boost/[>=1.86.0]
```
- If you're not using any compiled Boost library, the following will skip building altogether:
```
[options]
boost:header_only=True
```
* Using vcpkg: Execute the command
```
vcpkg install boost-poly-collection
```
* Using CMake: [Boost CMake support infrastructure](https://github.com/boostorg/cmake)
allows you to use CMake directly to download, build and consume all of Boost or
some specific libraries.
## Support
* Join the **#boost** discussion group at [cpplang.slack.com](https://cpplang.slack.com/)
([ask for an invite](https://cppalliance.org/slack/) if you’re not a member of this workspace yet)
* Ask in the [Boost Users mailing list](https://lists.boost.org/mailman/listinfo.cgi/boost-users)
(add the `[poly_collection]` tag at the beginning of the subject line)
* [File an issue](https://github.com/boostorg/poly_collection/issues)
## Contribute
* [Pull requests](https://github.com/boostorg/poly_collection/pulls) against **develop** branch are most welcome.
Note that by submitting patches you agree to license your modifications under the [Boost Software License, Version 1.0](http://www.boost.org/LICENSE_1_0.txt).