Does std::sort change the relative order of equal elements?

Question

Does the standard guarantee that order of equal elements will not change (eh, forgot the term for that) by using std::sort or do I need to consider an alternative solution

Answer 1

No it explicitly does not guarantee this. If you need to maintain relative ordering use stable_sort instead.

Documentation of sort which includes reference to equivalent elements

• http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ecdecxh1(VS.80).aspx