C++: Inheriting from std::map

I want to inherit from std::map, but as far as I know std::map hasn't any virtual destructor.

Is it therefore possible to call std::map's destructor explicitly in my destructor to ensure proper object destruction?

The destructor does get called, even if it's not virtual, but that's not the issue.

You get undefined behavior if you attempt to delete an object of your type through a pointer to a std::map.

Use composition instead of inheritance, std containers are not meant to be inherited, and you shouldn't.

I'm assuming you want to extend the functionality of std::map (say you want to find the minimum value), in which case you have two far better, and legal, options:

1) As suggested, you can use composition instead:

template<class K, class V>
class MyMap
{
    std::map<K,V> m;
    //wrapper methods
    V getMin();
};

2) Free functions:

namespace MapFunctionality
{
    template<class K, class V>
    V getMin(const std::map<K,V> m);
}