Max Operator function in C++

Hello folks! In this tutorial, we are going to learn and implement the max operator function in C++.  So let’s know a bit about what is max operator function (std::max) in C++.

Max Operator function  (std::max) is defined as the function which is used to find the largest number among the given numbers passed to it.

std::max comes under the #include<algorithm> header file.

It can be used in 3 ways listed below:

Compare two numbers only using std::max

1. In this way, two numbers are given in the arguments we will get the largest number out of them by using std::max. Just in case both the numbers have the same value it will always return the first value. This is a simple method to use max operator function.

C++ Code

#include<iostream>
#include<algorithm>
using namespace std;
int main()
{
  
  cout << std::max('x','y') << "\n"; // two variables used

  
  cout << std::max(17,34);  // values of two variables , will return largest value.

return 0;
}

Output:

y
34

---

Explanation to the code

First we will use #include<algorithm> header file. After that, we will use std::max function which will compare the values of variables x and y. Then we will put the values of x and y in std:: max operator. std::max operator will return the value of the largest number ie. in this case y=34.

---

To find the largest number using binary function and std::max

2. In this way we will be using a binary function already defined by the user and after that, we will pass the arguments.

C++Code

#include<iostream>
#include<algorithm>
using namespace std;

bool comp(int x, int y) // binary function defining variables x and y
{
  return (x < y);
}
int main()
{
  int x = 189;
  int y = 278;
  
  cout << std::max(x,y,comp) <<"\n" ; //using std::max 

return 0;
}

Output:

278

---

Explanation to the code:

First, we will be using #include<algorithm> header file. Then we will be defining a binary function, we will take two variables x and y. Then we will take values of two variables x and y and then we will be using std:: max operator function which will return largest among both values x and y.

---

To find the maximum element in a list using std::max

C++ Code

#include<iostream>
#include<algorithm>
using namespace std;

int main()
{

  cout << std::max({101, 245, 378, 480, 543, 1033, -166, 7111}) << "\n"; //return the largest number in list

return 0;
}

Output:

7111

Explanation of the code:

We will put header file #include<algorithm> then we will put 10 elements in the std::max it will return the largest number in the given list.

Like in this case, 7111 is the largest number on the list.

Thus, in this article, we have gained knowledge about the max operator function in C++.