Why STL containers are preferred over MFC containers?

Question

Previously, I used to use MFC collection classes such CArray and CMap. After a while I switched to STL containers and have been using them for a while.

Answer 1

I wouldn't totally dismiss the portability argument. Just because you use MFC today doesn't mean that you always will. And even if you mostly write for MFC, some of your code could be re-used in other applications if it were more generic and standards-based.

I think the other reason to consider STL is that its design and evolution has benefited from libraries that have come before, include MFC and ATL. So many of the solutions are cleaner, more re-usable, and less error prone. (Though I wish they had a better naming convention.)