[Term Entry] C++ Maps: .find()

content/cpp/concepts/maps/terms/find/find.md

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+---
+Title: '.find()'
+Description: 'Searches for an element with a particular key in a map.'
+Subjects:
+  - 'Computer Science'
+  - 'Game Development'
+Tags:
+  - 'Elements'
+  - 'Map'
+  - 'OOP'
+  - 'Objects'
+CatalogContent:
+  - 'learn-c-plus-plus'
+  - 'paths/computer-science'
+---
+
+The **`.find()`** method searches for an element with a given key in a `std::map`. If the key exists, `.find()` returns an iterator pointing to the key-value pair; otherwise, it returns `map.end()`.
+
+## Syntax
+
+```pseudo
+mapName.find(key);
+```
+
+**Parameters:**
+
+- `key`: The key to search for in the map.
+
+**Return value:**
+
+- If the key is found, returns an iterator pointing to the key-value pair.
+- If the key is not found, returns an iterator to `map.end()`.
+
+## Example
+
+This example demonstrates using `std::map` and the `.find()` method to check for an animal's existence and retrieve its lifespan efficiently:
+
+```cpp
+#include <iostream>
+#include <map>
+
+int main() {
+  std::map<std::string, int> lifeSpan = {
+    {"Giraffe", 26},
+    {"Goat", 15},
+    {"Lion", 10},
+    {"Tiger", 8}
+  };
+
+  auto it = lifeSpan.find("Lion");
+
+  if (it != lifeSpan.end()) {
+    std::cout << "Lion found! Lifespan: " << it->second << " years.\n";
+  } else {
+    std::cout << "Lion not found in the map.\n";
+  }
+
+  return 0;
+}
+```
+
+The code above results in the following output:
+
+```shell
+Lion found! Lifespan: 10 years.
+```
+
+## Codebyte Example
+
+Run the following codebyte example to understand how to use `.find()` to search for a key in a map:
+
+```codebyte/cpp
+#include <iostream>
+#include <map>
+
+int main() {
+  // Initializing map with items
+  std::map<std::string, int> lifeSpan = {
+    {"Giraffe", 26},
+    {"Goat", 15},
+    {"Lion", 10},
+    {"Tiger", 8}
+  };
+
+  // Searching for a key
+  std::string key = "Lion";
+  auto it = lifeSpan.find(key);
+
+  // Checking if the key was found
+  if (it != lifeSpan.end()) {
+    std::cout << key << " found! Lifespan: " << it->second << " years.\n";
+  } else {
+    std::cout << key << " not found in the map.\n";
+  }
+
+  // Searching for a non-existent key
+  key = "Elephant";
+  it = lifeSpan.find(key);
+
+  if (it != lifeSpan.end()) {
+    std::cout << key << " found! Lifespan: " << it->second << " years.\n";
+  } else {
+    std::cout << key << " not found in the map.\n";
+  }
+}
+```