Once programmers have grasped the basics of object-oriented programming and C++, the most important tool that they have at their disposal is the Standard Template Library (STL). This provides them with a library of re-usable objects and standard data structures. It has recently been accepted by the C++ Standards Committee. This textbook is an introduction to data structures and the STL. It provides a carefully integrated discussion of general data structures and their implementation and use in the STL. In so doing, the author is able to teach readers the important features of abstraction and how to develop applications using the STL.