pair

class pair可以将两个值视为一个单元，尤其是在map和multimap中使用很多，在这里面就是使用pair来管理key-value的成对元素，此外任何函数需要返回两个值也都需要pair。

关于pair相关的定义和实现在STL源码中的stl_pair.h这个文件中，下面列举一下里面的内容：

/*
 *
 * Copyright (c) 1994
 * Hewlett-Packard Company
 *
 * Permission to use, copy, modify, distribute and sell this software
 * and its documentation for any purpose is hereby granted without fee,
 * provided that the above copyright notice appear in all copies and
 * that both that copyright notice and this permission notice appear
 * in supporting documentation.  Hewlett-Packard Company makes no
 * representations about the suitability of this software for any
 * purpose.  It is provided "as is" without express or implied warranty.
 *
 *
 * Copyright (c) 1996,1997
 * Silicon Graphics Computer Systems, Inc.
 *
 * Permission to use, copy, modify, distribute and sell this software
 * and its documentation for any purpose is hereby granted without fee,
 * provided that the above copyright notice appear in all copies and
 * that both that copyright notice and this permission notice appear
 * in supporting documentation.  Silicon Graphics makes no
 * representations about the suitability of this software for any
 * purpose.  It is provided "as is" without express or implied warranty.
 */

/* NOTE: This is an internal header file, included by other STL headers.
 *   You should not attempt to use it directly.
 */

#ifndef __SGI_STL_INTERNAL_PAIR_H
#define __SGI_STL_INTERNAL_PAIR_H

__STL_BEGIN_NAMESPACE

template <class _T1, class _T2>
struct pair {
  typedef _T1 first_type;
  typedef _T2 second_type;

  _T1 first;
  _T2 second;
  pair() : first(_T1()), second(_T2()) {}
  pair(const _T1& __a, const _T2& __b) : first(__a), second(__b) {}

#ifdef __STL_MEMBER_TEMPLATES
  template <class _U1, class _U2>
  pair(const pair<_U1, _U2>& __p) : first(__p.first), second(__p.second) {}
#endif
};

template <class _T1, class _T2>
inline bool operator==(const pair<_T1, _T2>& __x, const pair<_T1, _T2>& __y)
{ 
  return __x.first == __y.first && __x.second == __y.second; 
}

template <class _T1, class _T2>
inline bool operator<(const pair<_T1, _T2>& __x, const pair<_T1, _T2>& __y)
{ 
  return __x.first < __y.first || 
         (!(__y.first < __x.first) && __x.second < __y.second); 
}

#ifdef __STL_FUNCTION_TMPL_PARTIAL_ORDER

template <class _T1, class _T2>
inline bool operator!=(const pair<_T1, _T2>& __x, const pair<_T1, _T2>& __y) {
  return !(__x == __y);
}

template <class _T1, class _T2>
inline bool operator>(const pair<_T1, _T2>& __x, const pair<_T1, _T2>& __y) {
  return __y < __x;
}

template <class _T1, class _T2>
inline bool operator<=(const pair<_T1, _T2>& __x, const pair<_T1, _T2>& __y) {
  return !(__y < __x);
}

template <class _T1, class _T2>
inline bool operator>=(const pair<_T1, _T2>& __x, const pair<_T1, _T2>& __y) {
  return !(__x < __y);
}

#endif /* __STL_FUNCTION_TMPL_PARTIAL_ORDER */

template <class _T1, class _T2>
inline pair<_T1, _T2> make_pair(const _T1& __x, const _T2& __y)
{
  return pair<_T1, _T2>(__x, __y);
}

__STL_END_NAMESPACE

#endif /* __SGI_STL_INTERNAL_PAIR_H */

// Local Variables:
// mode:C++
// End:

里面大部分都比较简单，值得我们注意的是make_pair的使用。它可以简化我们写代码时需要关注构建pair的方法，可以要我们不用再关注太具体的细节。

下面举例说明一下用pair和make_pair来构建key-value时的比较：

（1）pair

void f (std::pair <int, const char * >);
void g (std::pair <const int, std::string >);

void foo
{
	std::pair<int, const char * > p (123, "lalalala");
	
	//calls built-in default copy constructor
	f (p);
	
	//calls template constructor
	g (p);
}

（2）make_pair

void f (std::pair <int, const char * >);
void g (std::pair <const int, std::string >);

void foo
{
	//pass two values as pair
	f (std::make_pair (123, "lalalala"));

	//pass two values as pair with type conversions
	g (std::make_pair (123, "lalalala"));
}

make_pair可以将两个值当作一个pair参数来传递，即使类型不同也能在template构造函数提供的支持下正常工作，在map和multimap中我们会经常看到这种写法。