while loop, loops forever

[dlugo]

Why does this keep looping forever?

    std::string word;

    while(file.is_open()){
         file >> word;
         
         Element item;

         sort.retrieve(word, item);
         
         if(item.count == 0){
             item.count++;
             sort.insert(item);
         }
         else{
             item.count++;
             sort.replace(item);
         } 
    }
    file.close();
    
    return;

I want this to loop until the file is empty.

[Athar]

Because you're not closing the file anywhere inside the loop...
Perhaps while(file >> word) would be more appropriate.

[filipe]

I assume you want to read the whole file. So instead of

std::string word;
while(file.is_open())
{
    file >> word;
    // code
}
file.close();

you should say

std::string word;
while(file >> word)
{
    // code
}
// no need to call close(), let the scope deal with it 

It's also worth noticing that since item.count will be incremented no matter what, it can be said only once, outside the if statement.