Roughing it with std::forward_list<T>

The standard container std::forward_list<T> is a linked list like std::list, but with fewer amenities--no way to get its size, no way to iterate backward. In memory it looks similar to std::list<T>, but with smaller nodes:

Nevertheless, std::forward_list retains almost all of the "special skills" of std::list. The only operations that it can't do are splice (because that involves inserting "before" the given iterator) and push_back (because that involves finding the end of the list in constant time).

forward_list replaces these missing member functions with _after versions:

• flst.erase_after(it) to erase the element after the given position
• flst.insert_after(it, v) to insert a new element after the given position
• flst.splice_after(it, otherflst) to insert the elements of otherflstafter the given position

As with std::list, you should avoid using forward_list at all unless you are in need of its particular set of skills.