What are C++ functors and their uses?

Question

I keep hearing a lot about functors in C++. Can someone give me an overview as to what they are and in what cases they would be useful?

Answer 1

Functor can also be used to simulate defining a local function within a function. Refer to the question and another.

But a local functor can not access outside auto variables. The lambda (C++11) function is a better solution.