const value_type& top ( ) const;

Access top element

Returns a constant reference to the top element in the priority_queue. The top element is the element that compares higher in the priority_queue, and the next that is removed from the container when priority_queue::pop is called.

This member function effectively calls the member function front of the underlying container object.

Parameters

Return value

Member type value_type is defined to the type of value contained by the underlying container, which shall be the same as the first template parameter (T).

Example

// priority_queue::top
#include <iostream>
#include <queue>
using namespace std;

int main ()
{
  priority_queue<int> mypq;

  mypq.push(10);
  mypq.push(20);
  mypq.push(15);

  cout << "mypq.top() is now " << mypq.top() << endl;

  return 0;
}

Output:

mypq.top() is now 20

Complexity

See also