[c++] When to use std::size_t?

size_t is returned by various libraries to indicate that the size of that container is non-zero. You use it when you get once back :0

However, in the your example above looping on a size_t is a potential bug. Consider the following:

for (size_t i = thing.size(); i >= 0; --i) {
  // this will never terminate because size_t is a typedef for
  // unsigned int which can not be negative by definition
  // therefore i will always be >= 0
  printf("the never ending story. la la la la");
}

the use of unsigned integers has the potential to create these types of subtle issues. Therefore imho I prefer to use size_t only when I interact with containers/types that require it.

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When to use std::size_t?