std::priority_queue::top(3)

NAME
std::priority_queue::top - std::priority_queue::top

Synopsis
   const_reference top() const;
   Returns reference to the top element in the priority queue. This element will be
   removed on a call to pop(). If default comparison function is used, the returned
   element is also the greatest among the elements in the queue.

Parameters
   (none)

Return value
   Reference to the top element as if obtained by a call to c.front().

Complexity
   Constant.

Example
// Run this code
 #include <iostream>
 #include <queue>
 struct Event
 {
     int priority{};
     char data{' '};
     friend bool operator<(Event const& lhs, Event const& rhs)
     {
         return lhs.priority < rhs.priority;
     }
     friend std::ostream& operator<<(std::ostream& os, Event const& e)
     {
         return os << '{' << e.priority << ", '" << e.data << "'}";
     }
 };
 int main()
 {
     std::priority_queue<Event> events;
     std::cout << "Fill the events queue:\t";
     for (auto const e : {Event{6,'L'}, {8,'I'}, {9,'S'}, {1,'T'}, {5,'E'}, {3,'N'}})
     {
         std::cout << e << ' ';
         events.push(e);
     }
     std::cout << "\nProcess events:\t\t";
     for (; !events.empty(); events.pop())
     {
         Event const& e = events.top();
         std::cout << e << ' ';
     }
     std::cout << '\n';
 }

Output:
 Fill the events queue: {6, 'L'} {8, 'I'} {9, 'S'} {1, 'T'} {5, 'E'} {3, 'N'}
 Process events: {9, 'S'} {8, 'I'} {6, 'L'} {5, 'E'} {3, 'N'} {1, 'T'}

See also
   pop removes the top element
       (public member function)