`basic_string` Class

Article
07/11/2023

The sequences controlled by an object of type basic_string are the Standard C++ string class and are referred to as strings, but they shouldn't be confused with the null-terminated C-style strings used throughout the C++ Standard Library. The Standard C++ string is a container that enables the use of strings as normal types, such as comparison and concatenation operations, iterators, C++ Standard Library algorithms, and copying and assigning with class allocator-managed memory. If you need to convert a Standard C++ string to a null-terminated C-style string, use the basic_string::c_str member.

Syntax

template <class CharType, class Traits = char_traits<CharType>, class Allocator = allocator<CharType>>
class basic_string;

Parameters

CharType
The data type of a single character to be stored in the string. The C++ Standard Library provides specializations of this class template, with the type definitions string for elements of type char, wstring, for wchar_t, u16string for char16_t, and u32string for char32_t.

Traits
Various important properties of the CharType elements in a basic_string specialization are described by the class Traits. The default value is char_traits<CharType>.

Allocator
The type that represents the stored allocator object that encapsulates details about the string's allocation and deallocation of memory. The default value is allocator<CharType>.

Constructors

Constructor	Description
`basic_string`	Constructs a string that is empty or initialized by specific characters or that is a copy of all or part of some other string object or C-string.

Typedefs

Type name	Description
`allocator_type`	A type that represents the `allocator` class for a string object.
`const_iterator`	A type that provides a random-access iterator that can access and read a `const` element in the string.
`const_pointer`	A type that provides a pointer to a `const` element in a string.
`const_reference`	A type that provides a reference to a `const` element stored in a string for reading and performing `const` operations.
`const_reverse_iterator`	A type that provides a random-access iterator that can read any `const` element in the string.
`difference_type`	A type that provides the difference between two iterators that refer to elements within the same string.
`iterator`	A type that provides a random-access iterator that can read or modify any element in a string.
`npos`	An unsigned integral value initialized to -1 that indicates either "not found" or "all remaining characters" when a search function fails.
`pointer`	A type that provides a pointer to a character element in a string or character array.
`reference`	A type that provides a reference to an element stored in a string.
`reverse_iterator`	A type that provides a random-access iterator that can read or modify an element in a reversed string.
`size_type`	An unsigned integral type for the number of elements in a string.
`traits_type`	A type for the character traits of the elements stored in a string.
`value_type`	A type that represents the type of characters stored in a string.

Member functions

Member function	Description
`append`	Adds characters to the end of a string.
`assign`	Assigns new character values to the contents of a string.
`at`	Returns a reference to the element at a specified location in the string.
`back`
`begin`	Returns an iterator addressing the first element in the string.
`c_str`	Converts the contents of a string as a C-style, null-terminated, string.
`capacity`	Returns the largest number of elements that could be stored in a string without increasing the memory allocation of the string.
`cbegin`	Returns a const iterator addressing the first element in the string.
`cend`	Returns a const iterator that addresses the location succeeding the last element in a string.
`clear`	Erases all elements of a string.
`compare`	Compares a string with a specified string to determine if the two strings are equal or if one is lexicographically less than the other.
`copy`	Copies at most a specified number of characters from an indexed position in a source string to a target character array. Deprecated. Use `basic_string::_Copy_s` instead.
`crbegin`	Returns a const iterator that addresses the first element in a reversed string.
`crend`	Returns a const iterator that addresses the location succeeding the last element in a reversed string.
`_Copy_s`	Microsoft Specific: Copies at most a specified number of characters from an indexed position in a source string to a target character array.
`data`	Converts the contents of a string into an array of characters.
`empty`	Tests whether the string contains characters.
`end`	Returns an iterator that addresses the location succeeding the last element in a string.
`ends_with`^C++20	Checks whether the string ends with the specified suffix.
`erase`	Removes an element or a range of elements in a string from a specified position.
`find`	Searches a string in a forward direction for the first occurrence of a substring that matches a specified sequence of characters.
`find_first_not_of`	Searches through a string for the first character that isn't any element of a specified string.
`find_first_of`	Searches through a string for the first character that matches any element of a specified string.
`find_last_not_of`	Searches through a string for the last character that isn't any element of a specified string.
`find_last_of`	Searches through a string for the last character that is an element of a specified string.
`front`	Returns a reference to the first element in a string.
`get_allocator`	Returns a copy of the `allocator` object used to construct the string.
`insert`	Inserts an element, several elements, or a range of elements into the string at a specified position.
`length`	Returns the current number of elements in a string.
`max_size`	Returns the maximum number of characters a string could contain.
`pop_back`	Erases the last element of the string.
`push_back`	Adds an element to the end of the string.
`rbegin`	Returns an iterator to the first element in a reversed string.
`rend`	Returns an iterator that points just beyond the last element in a reversed string.
`replace`	Replaces elements in a string at a specified position with specified characters or characters copied from other ranges or strings or C-strings.
`reserve`	Sets the capacity of the string to a number at least as great as a specified number.
`resize`	Specifies a new size for a string, appending or erasing elements as required.
`rfind`	Searches a string in a backward direction for the first occurrence of a substring that matches a specified sequence of characters.
`shrink_to_fit`	Discards the excess capacity of the string.
`size`	Returns the current number of elements in a string.
`starts_with`^C++20	Checks whether the string starts with the specified prefix.
`substr`	Copies a substring of at most some number of characters from a string beginning from a specified position.
`swap`	Exchange the contents of two strings.

Operators

Operator	Description
`operator+=`	Appends characters to a string.
`operator=`	Assigns new character values to the contents of a string.
`operator[]`	Provides a reference to the character with a specified index in a string.

Literals

The headers that define basic_string also define the following user-defined literals, which create a string of the specified type from the input parameters.

Declaration	Description
`inline string operator"" s(const char* str, size_t len)`	Returns: `string(str, len)`
`inline string operator"" s(const wchar_t* str, size_t len)`	Returns: `wstring(str, len)`
`inline basic_string<char8_t> operator"" s(const char8_t* str, size_t len)`	Returns: `basic_string<char8_t>(str, len)`
`inline u16string operator"" s(const char16_t* str, size_t len)`	Returns: `u16string(str, len)`
`inline u32string operator"" s(const char32_t* str, size_t len)`	Returns: `u32string(str, len)`

Remarks

If a function is asked to generate a sequence longer than max_size elements, the function reports a length error by throwing an object of type length_error.

References, pointers, and iterators that designate elements of the controlled sequence can become invalid after any call to a function that alters the controlled sequence, or after the first call to a non-const member function.

Requirements

Header: <string>

Namespace: std

`basic_string::allocator_type`

A type that represents the allocator class for a string object.

typedef Allocator allocator_type;

Remarks

The type is a synonym for the template parameter Allocator.

Example

// basic_string_allocator_type.cpp
// compile with: /EHsc
#include <string>
#include <iostream>

int main( )
{
   using namespace std;
   // The following lines declare objects
   // that use the default allocator.
   string s1;
   basic_string <char>::allocator_type xchar = s1.get_allocator( );
   // You can now call functions on the allocator class xchar used by s1
}

`basic_string::append`

Adds characters to the end of a string.

basic_string<CharType, Traits, Allocator>& append(
    const value_type* ptr);

basic_string<CharType, Traits, Allocator>& append(
    const value_type* ptr,
    size_type count);

basic_string<CharType, Traits, Allocator>& append(
    const basic_string<CharType, Traits, Allocator>& str,
    size_type offset,
    size_type count);

basic_string<CharType, Traits, Allocator>& append(
    const basic_string<CharType, Traits, Allocator>& str);

basic_string<CharType, Traits, Allocator>& append(
    size_type count,
    value_type char_value);

template <class InputIterator>
basic_string<CharType, Traits, Allocator>& append(
    InputIterator first,
    InputIterator last);

basic_string<CharType, Traits, Allocator>& append(
    const_pointer first,
    const_pointer last);

basic_string<CharType, Traits, Allocator>& append(
    const_iterator first,
    const_iterator last);

Parameters

ptr
The C-string to be appended.

str
The string whose characters are to be appended.

offset
The index of the part of the source string supplying the characters to be appended.

count
The number of characters to be appended, at most, from the source string.

char_value
The character value to be appended.

first
An input iterator addressing the first element in the range to be appended.

last
An input iterator, const_pointer, or const_iterator addressing the position of the one beyond the last element in the range to be appended.

Return value

A reference to the string object that is being appended with the characters passed by the member function.

Remarks

Characters may be appended to a string using the operator+= or the member functions append or push_back. operator+= appends single-argument values while the multiple-argument append member function allows a specific part of a string to be specified for adding.

Example

// basic_string_append.cpp
// compile with: /EHsc
#include <string>
#include <iostream>

int main( )
{
   using namespace std;

   // The first member function
   // appending a C-string to a string
   string str1a ( "Hello " );
   cout << "The original string str1 is: " << str1a << endl;
   const char *cstr1a = "Out There ";
   cout << "The C-string cstr1a is: " << cstr1a << endl;
   str1a.append ( cstr1a );
   cout << "Appending the C-string cstr1a to string str1 gives: "
        << str1a << "." << endl << endl;

   // The second member function
   // appending part of a C-string to a string
   string str1b ( "Hello " );
   cout << "The string str1b is: " << str1b << endl;
   const char *cstr1b = "Out There ";
   cout << "The C-string cstr1b is: " << cstr1b << endl;
   str1b.append ( cstr1b , 3 );
   cout << "Appending the 1st part of the C-string cstr1b "
        << "to string str1 gives: " << str1b << "."
        << endl << endl;

   // The third member function
   // appending part of one string to another
   string str1c ( "Hello " ), str2c ( "Wide World " );
   cout << "The string str2c is: " << str2c << endl;
   str1c.append ( str2c , 5 , 5 );
   cout << "The appended string str1 is: "
        << str1c << "." << endl << endl;

   // The fourth member function
   // appending one string to another in two ways,
   // comparing append and operator [ ]
   string str1d ( "Hello " ), str2d ( "Wide " ), str3d ( "World " );
   cout << "The  string str2d is: " << str2d << endl;
   str1d.append ( str2d );
   cout << "The appended string str1d is: "
        << str1d << "." << endl;
   str1d += str3d;
   cout << "The doubly appended strig str1 is: "
        << str1d << "." << endl << endl;

   // The fifth member function
   // appending characters to a string
   string str1e ( "Hello " );
   str1e.append ( 4 , '!' );
   cout << "The string str1 appended with exclamations is: "
        << str1e << endl << endl;

   // The sixth member function
   // appending a range of one string to another
   string str1f ( "Hello " ), str2f ( "Wide World " );
   cout << "The string str2f is: " << str2f << endl;
   str1f.append ( str2f.begin ( ) + 5 , str2f.end ( ) - 1 );
   cout << "The appended string str1 is: "
        << str1f << "." << endl << endl;
}

The original string str1 is: Hello
The C-string cstr1a is: Out There
Appending the C-string cstr1a to string str1 gives: Hello Out There .

The string str1b is: Hello
The C-string cstr1b is: Out There
Appending the 1st part of the C-string cstr1b to string str1 gives: Hello Out.

The string str2c is: Wide World
The appended string str1 is: Hello World.

The  string str2d is: Wide
The appended string str1d is: Hello Wide .
The doubly appended strig str1 is: Hello Wide World .

The string str1 appended with exclamations is: Hello !!!!

The string str2f is: Wide World
The appended string str1 is: Hello World.

`basic_string::assign`

Assigns new character values to the contents of a string.

basic_string<CharType, Traits, Allocator>& assign(
    const value_type* ptr);

basic_string<CharType, Traits, Allocator>& assign(
    const value_type* ptr,
    size_type count);

basic_string<CharType, Traits, Allocator>& assign(
    const basic_string<CharType, Traits, Allocator>& str,
    size_type off,
    size_type count);

basic_string<CharType, Traits, Allocator>& assign(
    const basic_string<CharType, Traits, Allocator>& str);

basic_string<CharType, Traits, Allocator>& assign(
    size_type count,
    value_type char_value);

template <class InIt>
basic_string<CharType, Traits, Allocator>& assign(
    InputIterator first,
    InputIterator last);

basic_string<CharType, Traits, Allocator>& assign(
    const_pointer first,
    const_pointer last);

basic_string<CharType, Traits, Allocator>& assign(
    const_iterator first,
    const_iterator last);

Parameters

ptr
A pointer to the characters of the C-string to be assigned to the target string.

count
The number of characters to be assigned, from the source string.

str
The source string whose characters are to be assigned to the target string.

char_value
The character value to be assigned.

first
An input iterator, const_pointer, or const_iterator addressing the first character in the range of the source string to be assigned to the target range.

last
An input iterator, const_pointer, or const_iterator addressing the one beyond the last character in the range of the source string to be assigned to the target range.

off
The position at which new characters will start to be assigned.

Return value

A reference to the string object that is being assigned new characters by the member function.

Remarks

The strings can be assigned new character values. The new value can be either a string and C-string or a single character. The operator= may be used if the new value can be described by a single parameter; otherwise the member function assign, which has multiple parameters, can be used to specify which part of the string is to be assigned to a target string.

Example

// basic_string_assign.cpp
// compile with: /EHsc
#include <string>
#include <iostream>

int main( )
{
   using namespace std;

   // The first member function assigning the
   // characters of a C-string to a string
   string str1a;
   const char *cstr1a = "Out There";
   cout << "The C-string cstr1a is: " << cstr1a <<  "." << endl;
   str1a.assign ( cstr1a );
   cout << "Assigning the C-string cstr1a to string str1 gives: "
        << str1a << "." << endl << endl;

   // The second member function assigning a specific
   // number of the of characters a C-string to a string
   string  str1b;
   const char *cstr1b = "Out There";
   cout << "The C-string cstr1b is: " << cstr1b << endl;
   str1b.assign ( cstr1b , 3 );
   cout << "Assigning the 1st part of the C-string cstr1b "
        << "to string str1 gives: " << str1b << "."
        << endl << endl;

   // The third member function assigning a specific number
   // of the characters from one string to another string
   string str1c ( "Hello " ), str2c ( "Wide World " );
   cout << "The string str2c is: " << str2c << endl;
   str1c.assign ( str2c , 5 , 5 );
   cout << "The newly assigned string str1 is: "
        << str1c << "." << endl << endl;

   // The fourth member function assigning the characters
   // from one string to another string in two equivalent
   // ways, comparing the assign and operator =
   string str1d ( "Hello" ), str2d ( "Wide" ), str3d ( "World" );
   cout << "The original string str1 is: " << str1d << "." << endl;
   cout << "The string str2d is: " << str2d << endl;
   str1d.assign ( str2d );
   cout << "The string str1 newly assigned with string str2d is: "
        << str1d << "." << endl;
   cout << "The string str3d is: " << str3d << "." << endl;
   str1d = str3d;
   cout << "The string str1 reassigned with string str3d is: "
        << str1d << "." << endl << endl;

   // The fifth member function assigning a specific
   // number of characters of a certain value to a string
   string str1e ( "Hello " );
   str1e.assign ( 4 , '!' );
   cout << "The string str1 assigned with eclamations is: "
        << str1e << endl << endl;

   // The sixth member function assigning the value from
   // the range of one string to another string
   string str1f ( "Hello " ), str2f ( "Wide World " );
   cout << "The string str2f is: " << str2f << endl;
   str1f.assign ( str2f.begin ( ) + 5 , str2f.end ( ) - 1 );
   cout << "The string str1 assigned a range of string str2f is: "
        << str1f << "." << endl << endl;
}

The C-string cstr1a is: Out There.
Assigning the C-string cstr1a to string str1 gives: Out There.

The C-string cstr1b is: Out There
Assigning the 1st part of the C-string cstr1b to string str1 gives: Out.

The string str2c is: Wide World
The newly assigned string str1 is: World.

The original string str1 is: Hello.
The string str2d is: Wide
The string str1 newly assigned with string str2d is: Wide.
The string str3d is: World.
The string str1 reassigned with string str3d is: World.

The string str1 assigned with eclamations is: !!!!

The string str2f is: Wide World
The string str1 assigned a range of string str2f is: World.

`basic_string::at`

Provides a reference to the character with a specified index in a string.

const_reference at(size_type offset) const;

reference at(size_type offset);

Parameters

offset
The index of the position of the element to be referenced.

Return value

A reference to the character of the string at the position specified by the parameter index.

Remarks

The first element of the string has an index of zero and the following elements are indexed consecutively by the positive integers, so that a string of length n has an nth element indexed by the number n - 1.

The member operator[] is faster than the member function at for providing read and write access to the elements of a string.

The member operator[] doesn't check whether the index passed as a parameter is valid but the member function at does and so should be used if the validity isn't certain. An invalid index, which is an index less that zero or greater than or equal to the size of the string, passed to the member function at throws an out_of_range Class exception. An invalid index passed to the operator[] results in undefined behavior, but the index equal to the length of the string is a valid index for const strings and the operator returns the null-character when passed this index.

The reference returned may be invalidated by string reallocations or modifications for the non-const strings.

Example

// basic_string_at.cpp
// compile with: /EHsc
#include <string>
#include <iostream>

int main( )
{
   using namespace std;
   string str1 ( "Hello world" ), str2 ( "Goodbye world" );
   const string  cstr1 ( "Hello there" ), cstr2 ( "Goodbye now" );
   cout << "The original string str1 is: " << str1 << endl;
   cout << "The original string str2 is: " << str2 << endl;

   // Element access to the non const strings
   basic_string <char>::reference refStr1 = str1 [6];
   basic_string <char>::reference refStr2 = str2.at ( 3 );

   cout << "The character with an index of 6 in string str1 is: "
        << refStr1 << "." << endl;
   cout << "The character with an index of 3 in string str2 is: "
        << refStr2 << "." << endl;

   // Element access to the const strings
   basic_string <char>::const_reference crefStr1 = cstr1 [ cstr1.length ( ) ];
   basic_string <char>::const_reference crefStr2 = cstr2.at ( 8 );

   if ( crefStr1 == '\0' )
      cout << "The null character is returned as a valid reference."
           << endl;
   else
      cout << "The null character is not returned." << endl;
   cout << "The character with index 8 in the const string cstr2 is: "
        << crefStr2 << "." << endl;
}

`basic_string::back`

Returns a reference to the last element in the string.

const_reference back() const;

reference back();

Return value

A reference to the last element of the string, which must be non-empty.

Remarks

`basic_string::basic_string`

Constructs a string that is empty, initialized by specific characters, or is a copy of all or part of another string object or C style (null-terminated) string.

basic_string();

explicit basic_string(
    const allocator_type& alloc_type);

basic_string(
    const basic_string& right);

basic_string(
    basic_string&& right);

basic_string(
    const basic_string& right,
    size_type right_offset,
    size_type count = npos);

basic_string(
    const basic_string& right,
    size_type right_offset,
    size_type count,
    const allocator_type& alloc_type);

basic_string(
    const value_type* ptr,
    size_type count);

basic_string(
    const value_type* ptr,
    size_type count,
    const allocator_type& alloc_type);

basic_string(
    const value_type* ptr);

basic_string(
    const value_type* ptr,
    const allocator_type& alloc_type);

basic_string(
    size_type count,
    value_type char_value);

basic_string(
    size_type count,
    value_type char_value,
    const allocator_type& alloc_type);

template <class InputIterator>
basic_string(
    InputIterator first,
    InputIterator last);

template <class InputIterator>
basic_string(
    InputIterator first,
    InputIterator last,
    const allocator_type& alloc_type);

basic_string(
    const_pointer first,
    const_pointer last);

basic_string(
    const_iterator first,
    const_iterator last);

Parameters

ptr
The C-string whose characters are to be used to initialize the string being constructed. This value can't be a null pointer unless count is zero.

alloc_type
The storage allocator class for the string object being constructed.

count
The number of characters to be initialized.

right
The string to initialize the string being constructed.

right_offset
The index of a character in a string that is the first to be used to initialize character values for the string being constructed.

char_value
The character value to be copied into the string being constructed.

first
An input iterator, const_pointer, or const_iterator addressing the first element in the source range to be inserted.

last
An input iterator, const_pointer, or const_iterator addressing the position of the one beyond the last element in the source range to be inserted.

Return value

A reference to the string object that is being constructed by the constructors.

Remarks

All constructors store a basic_string::allocator_type and initialize the controlled sequence. The allocator object is the argument al, if present. For the copy constructor, it's right.get_allocator(), a call to basic_string::get_allocator. Otherwise, the allocator is Alloc().

The controlled sequence is initialized to a copy of the operand sequence specified by the remaining operands. A constructor without an operand sequence specifies an empty initial controlled sequence. If InputIterator is an integer type in a template constructor, the operand sequence first, last behaves the same as (size_type) first, (value_type) last.

Example

// basic_string_ctor.cpp
// compile with: /EHsc
#include <string>
#include <iostream>

int main( )
{
   using namespace std;

   // The first member function initializing with a C-string
   const char *cstr1a = "Hello Out There.";
   basic_string <char> str1a ( cstr1a , 5);
   cout << "The string initialized by C-string cstr1a is: "
        << str1a << "." << endl;

   // The second member function initializing with a string
   string  str2a ( "How Do You Do" );
   basic_string <char> str2b ( str2a , 7 , 7 );
   cout << "The string initialized by part of the string cstr2a is: "
        << str2b << "." << endl;

   // The third member function initializing a string
   // with a number of characters of a specific value
   basic_string <char> str3a ( 5, '9' );
   cout << "The string initialized by five number 9s is: "
        << str3a << endl;

   // The fourth member function creates an empty string
   // and string with a specified allocator
   basic_string <char> str4a;
   string str4b;
   basic_string <char> str4c ( str4b.get_allocator( ) );
   if (str4c.empty ( ) )
      cout << "The string str4c is empty." << endl;
   else
      cout << "The string str4c is not empty." << endl;

   // The fifth member function initializes a string from
   // another range of characters
   string str5a ( "Hello World" );
   basic_string <char> str5b ( str5a.begin ( ) + 5 , str5a.end ( ) );
   cout << "The string initialized by another range is: "
        << str5b << "." << endl;
}

`basic_string::begin`

Returns an iterator addressing the first element in the string.

const_iterator begin() const;

iterator begin();

Return value

A random-access iterator that addresses the first element of the sequence or just beyond the end of an empty sequence.

Example

// basic_string_begin.cpp
// compile with: /EHsc
#include <string>
#include <iostream>

int main( ) {
   using namespace std;
   string str1 ( "No way out." ), str2;
   basic_string <char>::iterator strp_Iter, str1_Iter, str2_Iter;
   basic_string <char>::const_iterator str1_cIter;

   str1_Iter = str1.begin ( );
   cout << "The first character of the string str1 is: "
        << *str1_Iter << endl;
   cout << "The full original string str1 is: " << str1 << endl;

   // The dereferenced iterator can be used to modify a character
*str1_Iter = 'G';
   cout << "The first character of the modified str1 is now: "
        << *str1_Iter << endl;
   cout << "The full modified string str1 is now: " << str1 << endl;

   // The following line would be an error because iterator is const
   // *str1_cIter = 'g';

   // For an empty string, begin is equivalent to end
   if (  str2.begin ( ) == str2.end ( ) )
      cout << "The string str2 is empty." << endl;
   else
      cout << "The string str2 is not empty." << endl;
}

`basic_string::c_str`

Converts the contents of a string as a C-style, null-terminated string.

const value_type *c_str() const;

Return value

A pointer to the C-style version of the invoking string. The pointer value isn't valid after calling a non-const function, including the destructor, in the basic_string class on the object.

Remarks

Objects of type string belonging to the class template basic_string<char> aren't necessarily null terminated. The null character '\0' is used as a special character in a C-string to mark the end of the string but has no special meaning in an object of type string and may be a part of the string just like any other character. There's an automatic conversion from const char * into strings, but the string class doesn't provide for automatic conversions from C-style strings to objects of type basic_string<char>.

The returned C-style string shouldn't be modified, which could invalidate the pointer to the string, or deleted, as the string has a limited lifetime and is owned by the class string.

Example

// basic_string_c_str.cpp
// compile with: /EHsc
#include <string>
#include <iostream>

int main( )
{
   using namespace std;

   string  str1 ( "Hello world" );
   cout << "The original string object str1 is: "
        << str1 << endl;
   cout << "The length of the string object str1 = "
        << str1.length ( ) << endl << endl;

   // Converting a string to an array of characters
   const char *ptr1 = 0;
   ptr1= str1.data ( );
   cout << "The modified string object ptr1 is: " << ptr1
        << endl;
   cout << "The length of character array str1 = "
        << strlen ( ptr1) << endl << endl;

   // Converting a string to a C-style string
   const char *c_str1 = str1.c_str ( );
   cout << "The C-style string c_str1 is: " << c_str1
        << endl;
   cout << "The length of C-style string str1 = "
        << strlen ( c_str1) << endl << endl;
}

The original string object str1 is: Hello world
The length of the string object str1 = 11

The modified string object ptr1 is: Hello world
The length of character array str1 = 11

The C-style string c_str1 is: Hello world
The length of C-style string str1 = 11

`basic_string::capacity`

Returns the largest number of elements that could be stored in a string without increasing the memory allocation of the string.

size_type capacity() const;

Return value

The size of storage currently allocated in memory to hold the string.

Remarks

The member function returns the storage currently allocated to hold the controlled sequence, a value at least as large as size.

Example

// basic_string_capacity.cpp
// compile with: /EHsc
#include <string>
#include <iostream>

int main( )
{
   using namespace std;
   string  str1 ("Hello world");
   cout << "The original string str1 is: " << str1 << endl;

   // The size and length member functions differ in name only
   basic_string <char>::size_type sizeStr1, lenStr1;
   sizeStr1 = str1.size ( );
   lenStr1 = str1.length ( );

   basic_string <char>::size_type capStr1, max_sizeStr1;
   capStr1 = str1.capacity ( );
   max_sizeStr1 = str1.max_size ( );

   // Compare size, length, capacity & max_size of a string
   cout << "The current size of original string str1 is: "
        << sizeStr1 << "." << endl;
   cout << "The current length of original string str1 is: "
        << lenStr1 << "." << endl;
   cout << "The capacity of original string str1 is: "
        << capStr1 << "." << endl;
   cout << "The max_size of original string str1 is: "
        << max_sizeStr1 << "." << endl << endl;

   str1.erase ( 6, 5 );
   cout << "The modified string str1 is: " << str1 << endl;

   sizeStr1 = str1.size (  );
   lenStr1 = str1.length (  );
   capStr1 = str1.capacity (  );
   max_sizeStr1 = str1.max_size (  );

   // Compare size, length, capacity & max_size of a string
   // after erasing part of the original string
   cout << "The current size of modified string str1 is: "
        << sizeStr1 << "." << endl;
   cout << "The current length of modified string str1 is: "
        << lenStr1 << "." << endl;
   cout << "The capacity of modified string str1 is: "
        << capStr1 << "." << endl;
   cout << "The max_size of modified string str1 is: "
        << max_sizeStr1 << "." << endl;
}

`basic_string::cbegin`

Returns a const iterator that addresses the first element in the range.

const_iterator cbegin() const;

Return value

A const random-access iterator that points at the first element of the range, or the location just beyond the end of an empty range (for an empty range, cbegin() == cend()).

Remarks

With the return value of cbegin, the elements in the range can't be modified.

You can use this member function in place of the begin() member function to guarantee that the return value is const_iterator. Typically, it's used along with the auto type deduction keyword, as shown in the following example. In the example, consider Container to be a modifiable (non-const) container of any kind that supports begin() and cbegin().

auto i1 = Container.begin();
// i1 is Container<T>::iterator
auto i2 = Container.cbegin();

// i2 is Container<T>::const_iterator

`basic_string::cend`

Returns a const iterator that addresses the location just beyond the last element in a range.

const_iterator cend() const;

Return value

A const random-access iterator that points just beyond the end of the range.

Remarks

cend is used to test whether an iterator has passed the end of its range.

You can use this member function in place of the end() member function to guarantee that the return value is const_iterator. Typically, it's used along with the auto type deduction keyword, as shown in the following example. In the example, consider Container to be a modifiable (non-const) container of any kind that supports end() and cend().

auto i1 = Container.end();
// i1 is Container<T>::iterator
auto i2 = Container.cend();

// i2 is Container<T>::const_iterator

The value returned by cend shouldn't be dereferenced.

`basic_string::clear`

Erases all elements of a string.

void clear();

Remarks

The string on which the member function is called will be empty.

Example

// basic_string_clear.cpp
// compile with: /EHsc
#include <string>
#include <iostream>

int main( )
{
   using namespace std;
   string  str1 ("Hello world"), str2;
   basic_string <char>::iterator str_Iter;
   cout << "The original string str1 is: ";
   for ( str_Iter = str1.begin( ); str_Iter != str1.end( ); str_Iter++ )
      cout << *str_Iter;
   cout << endl;

   str1.clear ( );
   cout << "The modified string str1 is: ";
   for ( str_Iter = str1.begin( ); str_Iter != str1.end( ); str_Iter++ )
      cout << *str_Iter;
   cout << endl;

   //For an empty string, begin is equivalent to end
   if ( str1.begin ( ) == str1.end ( ) )
      cout << "Nothing printed above because "
           << "the string str1 is empty." << endl;
   else
      cout << "The string str1 is not empty." << endl;
}

The original string str1 is: Hello world
The modified string str1 is:
Nothing printed above because the string str1 is empty.

`basic_string::compare`

Does a case-sensitive comparison with a specified string to determine if the two strings are equal or if one is lexicographically less than the other.

int compare(
    const basic_string<CharType, Traits, Allocator>& str) const;

int compare(
    size_type position_1,
    size_type number_1,
    const basic_string<CharType, Traits, Allocator>& str) const;

int compare(
    size_type position_1,
    size_type number_1,
    const basic_string<CharType, Traits, Allocator>& str,
    size_type offset,
    size_type count) const;

int compare(
    const value_type* ptr) const;

int compare(
    size_type position_1,
    size_type number_1,
    const value_type* ptr) const;

int compare(
    size_type position_1,
    size_type number_1,
    const value_type* ptr
    size_type number_2) const;

Parameters

str
The string that is to be compared to the operand string.

position_1
The index of the operand string at which the comparison begins.

number_1
The maximum number of characters from the operand string to be compared.

number_2
The maximum number of characters from the parameter string to be compared.

offset
The index of the parameter string at which the comparison begins.

count
The maximum number of characters from the parameter string to be compared.

ptr
The C-string to be compared to the operand string.

Return value

A negative value if the operand string is less than the parameter string; zero if the two strings are equal; or a positive value if the operand string is greater than the parameter string.

Remarks

The compare member functions compare either all, or part, of the parameter and operand strings depending on which in used.

The comparison is case-sensitive.

Example

// basic_string_compare.cpp
// compile with: /EHsc
#include <string>
#include <iostream>

int main( )
{
   using namespace std;

   // The first member function compares
   // an operand string to a parameter string
   int comp1;
   string s1o ( "CAB" );
   string s1p ( "CAB" );
   cout << "The operand string is: " << s1o << endl;
   cout << "The parameter string is: " << s1p << endl;
   comp1 = s1o.compare ( s1p );
   if ( comp1 < 0 )
      cout << "The operand string is less than "
           << "the parameter string." << endl;
   else if ( comp1 == 0 )
      cout << "The operand string is equal to "
           << "the parameter string." << endl;
   else
      cout << "The operand string is greater than "
           << "the parameter string." << endl;
   cout << endl;

   // The second member function compares part of
   // an operand string to a parameter string
   int comp2a, comp2b;
   string s2o ( "AACAB" );
   string s2p ( "CAB" );
   cout << "The operand string is: " << s2o << endl;
   cout << "The parameter string is: " << s2p << endl;
   comp2a = s2o.compare (  2 , 3 , s2p );
   if ( comp2a < 0 )
      cout << "The last three characters of "
           << "the operand string\n are less than "
           << "the parameter string." << endl;
   else if ( comp2a == 0 )
      cout << "The last three characters of "
           << "the operand string\n are equal to "
           << "the parameter string." << endl;
   else
      cout << "The last three characters of "
           << "the operand string\n is greater than "
           << "the parameter string." << endl;

   comp2b = s2o.compare (  0 , 3 , s2p );
   if ( comp2b < 0 )
      cout << "The first three characters of "
           << "the operand string\n are less than "
           << "the parameter string." << endl;
   else if ( comp2b == 0 )
      cout << "The first three characters of "
           << "the operand string\n are equal to "
           << "the parameter string." << endl;
   else
      cout << "The first three characters of "
           << "the operand string\n is greater than "
           << "the parameter string." << endl;
   cout << endl;

   // The third member function compares part of
   // an operand string to part of a parameter string
   int comp3a;
   string s3o ( "AACAB" );
   string s3p ( "DCABD" );
   cout << "The operand string is: " << s3o << endl;
   cout << "The parameter string is: " << s3p << endl;
   comp3a = s3o.compare (  2 , 3 , s3p , 1 , 3 );
   if ( comp3a < 0 )
      cout << "The three characters from position 2 of "
           << "the operand string are less than\n "
           << "the 3 characters parameter string "
           << "from position 1." << endl;
   else if ( comp3a == 0 )
      cout << "The three characters from position 2 of "
           << "the operand string are equal to\n "
           << "the 3 characters parameter string "
           << "from position 1." << endl;
   else
      cout << "The three characters from position 2 of "
           << "the operand string is greater than\n "
           << "the 3 characters parameter string "
           << "from position 1." << endl;
   cout << endl;

   // The fourth member function compares
   // an operand string to a parameter C-string
   int comp4a;
   string s4o ( "ABC" );
   const char* cs4p = "DEF";
   cout << "The operand string is: " << s4o << endl;
   cout << "The parameter C-string is: " << cs4p << endl;
   comp4a = s4o.compare ( cs4p );
   if ( comp4a < 0 )
      cout << "The operand string is less than "
           << "the parameter C-string." << endl;
   else if ( comp4a == 0 )
      cout << "The operand string is equal to "
           << "the parameter C-string." << endl;
   else
      cout << "The operand string is greater than "
           << "the parameter C-string." << endl;
   cout << endl;

   // The fifth member function compares part of
   // an operand string to a parameter C-string
   int comp5a;
   string s5o ( "AACAB" );
   const char* cs5p = "CAB";
   cout << "The operand string is: " << s5o << endl;
   cout << "The parameter string is: " << cs5p << endl;
   comp5a = s5o.compare (  2 , 3 , s2p );
   if ( comp5a < 0 )
      cout << "The last three characters of "
           << "the operand string\n are less than "
           << "the parameter C-string." << endl;
   else if ( comp5a == 0 )
      cout << "The last three characters of "
           << "the operand string\n are equal to "
           << "the parameter C-string." << endl;
   else
      cout << "The last three characters of "
           << "the operand string\n is greater than "
           << "the parameter C-string." << endl;
   cout << endl;

   // The sixth member function compares part of
   // an operand string to part of an equal length of
   // a parameter C-string
   int comp6a;
   string s6o ( "AACAB" );
   const char* cs6p = "ACAB";
   cout << "The operand string is: " << s6o << endl;
   cout << "The parameter C-string is: " << cs6p << endl;
   comp6a = s6o.compare (  1 , 3 , cs6p , 3 );
   if ( comp6a < 0 )
      cout << "The 3 characters from position 1 of "
           << "the operand string are less than\n "
           << "the first 3 characters of the parameter C-string."
           << endl;
   else if ( comp6a == 0 )
      cout << "The 3 characters from position 2 of "
           << "the operand string are equal to\n "
           << "the first 3 characters of the parameter C-string."
           <<  endl;
   else
      cout << "The 3 characters from position 2 of "
           << "the operand string is greater than\n "
           << "the first 3 characters of the parameter C-string."
           << endl;
   cout << endl;
}

The operand string is: CAB
The parameter string is: CAB
The operand string is equal to the parameter string.

The operand string is: AACAB
The parameter string is: CAB
The last three characters of the operand string
are equal to the parameter string.
The first three characters of the operand string
are less than the parameter string.

The operand string is: AACAB
The parameter string is: DCABD
The three characters from position 2 of the operand string are equal to
the 3 characters parameter string from position 1.

The operand string is: ABC
The parameter C-string is: DEF
The operand string is less than the parameter C-string.

The operand string is: AACAB
The parameter string is: CAB
The last three characters of the operand string
are equal to the parameter C-string.

The operand string is: AACAB
The parameter C-string is: ACAB
The 3 characters from position 2 of the operand string are equal to
the first 3 characters of the parameter C-string.

`basic_string::const_iterator`

A type that provides a random-access iterator that can access and read a const element in the string.

typedef implementation-defined const_iterator;

Remarks

A type const_iterator can't be used to modify the value of a character and is used to iterate through a string in a forward direction.

Example

See the example for begin for an example of how to declare and use const_iterator.

`basic_string::const_pointer`

A type that provides a pointer to a const element in a string.

typedef typename allocator_type::const_pointer const_pointer;

Remarks

The type is a synonym for allocator_type::const_pointer.

For type string, it's equivalent to char*.

Pointers that are declared const must be initialized when they're declared. Const pointers always point to the same memory location and may point to constant or non-constant data.

Example

// basic_string_const_ptr.cpp
// compile with: /EHsc
#include <string>
#include <iostream>

int main( )
{
   using namespace std;
   basic_string<char>::const_pointer pstr1a = "In Here";
   const char *cstr1c = "Out There";

   cout << "The string pstr1a is: " << pstr1a <<  "." << endl;
   cout << "The C-string cstr1c is: " << cstr1c << "." << endl;
}

The string pstr1a is: In Here.
The C-string cstr1c is: Out There.

`basic_string::const_reference`

A type that provides a reference to a const element stored in a string for reading and performing const operations.

typedef typename allocator_type::const_reference const_reference;

Remarks

A type const_reference can't be used to modify the value of an element.

The type is a synonym for allocator_type::const_reference. For type string, it's equivalent to const char&.

Example

See the example for at for an example of how to declare and use const_reference.

`basic_string::const_reverse_iterator`

A type that provides a random-access iterator that can read any const element in the string.

typedef std::reverse_iterator<const_iterator> const_reverse_iterator;

Remarks

A type const_reverse_iterator can't modify the value of a character and is used to iterate through a string in reverse.

Example

See the example for rbegin for an example of how to declare and use const_reverse_iterator.

`basic_string::copy`

Copies at most a specified number of characters from an indexed position in a source string to a target character array.

This method is potentially unsafe, as it relies on the caller to check that the passed values are correct. Consider using basic_string::_Copy_s instead.

size_type copy(
    value_type* ptr,
    size_type count,
    size_type offset = 0) const;

Parameters

ptr
The target character array to which the elements are to be copied.

count The number of characters to be copied, at most, from the source string.

offset
The beginning position in the source string from which copies are to be made.

Return value

The number of characters copied.

Remarks

A null character isn't appended to the end of the copy.

Example

// basic_string_copy.cpp
// compile with: /EHsc /W3
#include <string>
#include <iostream>

int main( )
{
   using namespace std;
   string str1 ( "Hello World" );
   basic_string <char>::iterator str_Iter;
   char array1 [ 20 ] = { 0 };
   char array2 [ 10 ] = { 0 };
   basic_string <char>:: pointer array1Ptr = array1;
   basic_string <char>:: value_type *array2Ptr = array2;

   cout << "The original string str1 is: ";
   for ( str_Iter = str1.begin( ); str_Iter != str1.end( ); str_Iter++ )
      cout << *str_Iter;
   cout << endl;

   basic_string <char>:: size_type nArray1;
   // Note: string::copy is potentially unsafe, consider
   // using string::_Copy_s instead.
   nArray1 = str1.copy ( array1Ptr , 12 );  // C4996
   cout << "The number of copied characters in array1 is: "
        << nArray1 << endl;
   cout << "The copied characters array1 is: " << array1 << endl;

   basic_string <char>:: size_type nArray2;
   // Note: string::copy is potentially unsafe, consider
   // using string::_Copy_s instead.
   nArray2 = str1.copy ( array2Ptr , 5 , 6  );  // C4996
   cout << "The number of copied characters in array2 is: "
           << nArray2 << endl;
   cout << "The copied characters array2 is: " << array2Ptr << endl;
}

The original string str1 is: Hello World
The number of copied characters in array1 is: 11
The copied characters array1 is: Hello World
The number of copied characters in array2 is: 5
The copied characters array2 is: World

`basic_string::crbegin`

Returns a const iterator that addresses the first element in a reversed string.

const_reverse_iterator crbegin() const;

Return value

A reverse iterator that points just beyond the end of the string. The position designates the beginning of the reverse string.

`basic_string::crend`

Returns a const iterator that addresses the location succeeding the last element in a reversed string.

const_reverse_iterator crend() const;

Return value

A const reverse iterator that addresses the location succeeding the last element in a reversed string (the location that had preceded the first element in the unreversed string).

Remarks

`basic_string::_Copy_s`

Copies at most a specified number of characters from an indexed position in a source string to a target character array.

size_type _Copy_s(
    value_type* dest,
    size_type dest_size,
    size_type count,
    size_type offset = 0) const;

Parameters

dest
The target character array to which the elements are to be copied.

dest_size
The size of dest.

count The number of characters to be copied, at most, from the source string.

offset
The beginning position in the source string from which copies are to be made.

Return value

The number of characters copied.

Remarks

A null character isn't appended to the end of the copy. This function is Microsoft specific.

Example

// basic_string__Copy_s.cpp
// compile with: /EHsc
#include <string>
#include <iostream>

int main( )
{
    using namespace std;
    string str1("Hello World");
    basic_string<char>::iterator str_Iter;
    const int array1_size = 20;
    char array1[array1_size] = { 0 };
    const int array2_size = 10;
    char array2[array2_size] = { 0 };
    basic_string<char>:: pointer array1Ptr = array1;
    basic_string<char>:: value_type *array2Ptr = array2;

    cout << "The original string str1 is: ";
    for (str_Iter = str1.begin(); str_Iter != str1.end(); str_Iter++)
        cout << *str_Iter;
    cout << endl;

    basic_string<char>::size_type nArray1;
    nArray1 = str1._Copy_s(array1Ptr, array1_size, 12);
    cout << "The number of copied characters in array1 is: "
         << nArray1 << endl;
    cout << "The copied characters array1 is: " << array1 << endl;

    basic_string<char>:: size_type nArray2;
    nArray2 = str1._Copy_s(array2Ptr, array2_size, 5, 6);
    cout << "The number of copied characters in array2 is: "
         << nArray2 << endl;
    cout << "The copied characters array2 is: " << array2Ptr << endl;
}

The original string str1 is: Hello World
The number of copied characters in array1 is: 11
The copied characters array1 is: Hello World
The number of copied characters in array2 is: 5
The copied characters array2 is: World

`basic_string::data`

Converts the contents of a string into a null-terminated array of characters.

const value_type *data() const noexcept;
value_type *data() noexcept;

Return value

A pointer to the first element of the null-terminated array containing the contents of the string. For an empty string, the pointer points to a single null character equal to value_type().

Remarks

The pointer returned by data points at a valid range [data(), data() + size()]. Each element in the range corresponds to the current data in the string. That is, for every valid offset n in the range, data() + n == addressof(operator[](n)).

If you modify the contents of the string returned by the const overload of data, the behavior is undefined. You also get undefined behavior if the terminal null character is changed to any other value. The returned pointer may be invalidated if a non-const reference to the string is passed to a standard library function. It can also be invalidated by a call to a non-const member function. Calls to members at, back, begin, end, front, rbegin, rend, and operator[] don't invalidate the pointer.

Before C++11, data didn't guarantee the returned string was null-terminated. Since C++11, data and c_str both return a null-terminated string, and are effectively the same.

The non-const overload is new in C++17. To use it, specify the /std:c++17 or later compiler option.

Example

// basic_string_data.cpp
// compile with: /EHsc
#include <string>
#include <iostream>

int main( )
{
   using namespace std;

   string str1 ( "Hello world" );
   cout << "The original string object str1 is: "
        << str1 << endl;
   cout << "The length of the string object str1 = "
        << str1.length ( ) << endl << endl;

   // Converting a string to an array of characters
   const char *ptr1 = 0;
   ptr1= str1.data ( );
   cout << "The modified string object ptr1 is: " << ptr1
        << endl;
   cout << "The length of character array str1 = "
        << strlen ( ptr1) << endl << endl;

   // Converting a string to a C-style string
   const char *c_str1 = str1.c_str ( );
   cout << "The C-style string c_str1 is: " << c_str1
        << endl;
   cout << "The length of C-style string str1 = "
        << strlen ( c_str1) << endl << endl;
}

The original string object str1 is: Hello world
The length of the string object str1 = 11

The modified string object ptr1 is: Hello world
The length of character array str1 = 11

The C-style string c_str1 is: Hello world
The length of C-style string str1 = 11

`basic_string::difference_type`

A type that provides the difference between two iterators that refer to elements within the same string.

typedef typename allocator_type::difference_type difference_type;

Remarks

The signed integer type describes an object that can represent the difference between the addresses of any two elements in the controlled sequence.

For type string, it's equivalent to ptrdiff_t.

Example

// basic_string_diff_type.cpp
// compile with: /EHsc
#include <string>
#include <iostream>

int main( )
{
   using namespace std;
   string str1 ( "quintillion" );
   cout << "The original string str1 is: " << str1 << endl;
   basic_string <char>::size_type indexChFi, indexChLi;

   indexChFi = str1.find_first_of ( "i" );
   indexChLi = str1.find_last_of ( "i" );
   basic_string<char>::difference_type diffi = indexChLi - indexChFi;

   cout << "The first character i is at position: "
        << indexChFi << "." << endl;
   cout << "The last character i is at position: "
        << indexChLi << "." << endl;
   cout << "The difference is: " << diffi << "." << endl;
}

The original string str1 is: quintillion
The first character i is at position: 2.
The last character i is at position: 8.
The difference is: 6.

`basic_string::empty`

Tests whether the string contains characters or not.

bool empty() const;

Return value

true if the string object contains no characters; false if it has at least one character.

Remarks

The member function is equivalent to size == 0.

Example

// basic_string_empty.cpp
// compile with: /EHsc
#include <string>
#include <iostream>

int main() {
   using namespace std;

   bool b1, b2;

   string str1 ("Hello world");
   cout << "The original string object str1 is: " << str1 << endl;
   b1 = str1.empty();
   if (b1)
      cout << "The string object str1 is empty." << endl;
   else
      cout << "The string object str1 is not empty." << endl;
   cout << endl;

   // An example of an empty string object
   string str2;
   b2 = str2.empty();
   if (b2)
      cout << "The string object str2 is empty." << endl;
   else
      cout << "The string object str2 is not empty." << endl;
}

`basic_string::end`

Returns an iterator that addresses the location succeeding the last element in a string.

const_iterator end() const;

iterator end();

Return value

Returns a random-access iterator that addresses the location succeeding the last element in a string.

Remarks

end is often used to test whether an iterator has reached the end of its string. The value returned by end shouldn't be dereferenced.

If the return value of end is assigned to a const_iterator, the string object can't be modified. If the return value of end is assigned to an iterator, the string object can be modified.

Example

// basic_string_end.cpp
// compile with: /EHsc
#include <string>
#include <iostream>

int main( )
{
   using namespace std;
   string str1 ( "No way out." ), str2;
   basic_string <char>::iterator str_Iter, str1_Iter, str2_Iter;
   basic_string <char>::const_iterator str1_cIter;

   str1_Iter = str1.end ( );
   str1_Iter--;
   str1_Iter--;
   cout << "The last character-letter of the string str1 is: " << *str1_Iter << endl;
   cout << "The full original string str1 is: " << str1 << endl;

   // end used to test when an iterator has reached the end of its string
   cout << "The string is now: ";
   for ( str_Iter = str1.begin( ); str_Iter != str1.end( ); str_Iter++ )
      cout << *str_Iter;
   cout << endl;

   // The dereferenced iterator can be used to modify a character
   *str1_Iter = 'T';
   cout << "The last character-letter of the modified str1 is now: "
        << *str1_Iter << endl;
   cout << "The modified string str1 is now: " << str1 << endl;

   // The following line would be an error because iterator is const
   // *str1_cIter = 'T';

   // For an empty string, end is equivalent to begin
   if ( str2.begin( ) == str2.end ( ) )
      cout << "The string str2 is empty." << endl;
   else
      cout << "The stringstr2  is not empty." << endl;
}

The last character-letter of the string str1 is: t
The full original string str1 is: No way out.
The string is now: No way out.
The last character-letter of the modified str1 is now: T
The modified string str1 is now: No way ouT.
The string str2 is empty.

`basic_string::ends_with`

Check whether the string ends with the specified suffix.

bool ends_with(const CharType c) const noexcept;
bool ends_with(const CharType* const x) const noexcept;
bool ends_with(const basic_string_view sv) const noexcept;

Parameters

c
The single character suffix to look for.

sv
A string view containing the suffix to look for.
You can pass a std::basic_string, which converts to a string view.

x
Null-terminated character string containing the suffix to look for.

Return value

true if the string ends with the specified suffix; false otherwise.

Remarks

ends_with() is new in C++20. To use it, specify the /std:c++20 or later compiler option.

See starts_with to check if a string starts with the specified prefix.

Example

// Requires /std:c++20 or /std:c++latest
#include <string>
#include <iostream>

int main()
{
    std::basic_string<char> str = "abcdefg";

    std::cout << std::boolalpha; // so booleans show as 'true'/'false'
    std::cout << str.ends_with('g') << '\n';
    std::cout << str.ends_with("eFg") << '\n';

    std::basic_string<char> str2 = "efg";
    std::cout << str.ends_with(str2);

    return 0;
}

true
false
true

`basic_string::erase`

Removes an element or a range of elements in a string from a specified position.

iterator erase(
    iterator first,
    iterator last);

iterator erase(
    iterator iter);

basic_string<CharType, Traits, Allocator>& erase(
    size_type offset = 0,
    size_type count = npos);

Parameters

first
An iterator addressing the position of the first element in the range to be erased.

last
An iterator addressing the position one past the last element in the range to be erased.

iter
An iterator addressing the position of the element in the string to be erased.

offset
The index of the first character in the string to be removed.

count
The number of elements that will be removed if there are as many in the range of the string beginning with offset.

Return value

For the first two member functions, an iterator addressing the first character after the last character removed by the member function. For the third member function, a reference to the string object from which the elements have been erased.

Remarks

The third member function returns *this.

Example

// basic_string_erase.cpp
// compile with: /EHsc
#include <string>
#include <iostream>

int main( )
{
   using namespace std;

   // The 1st member function using a range demarcated
   // by iterators
   string str1 ( "Hello world" );
   basic_string <char>::iterator str1_Iter;
   cout << "The original string object str1 is: "
        << str1 << "." << endl;
   str1_Iter = str1.erase ( str1.begin ( ) + 3 , str1.end ( ) - 1 );
   cout << "The first element after those removed is: "
        << *str1_Iter << "." << endl;
   cout << "The modified string object str1 is: " << str1
           << "." << endl << endl;

   // The 2nd member function erasing a char pointed to
   // by an iterator
   string str2 ( "Hello World" );
   basic_string <char>::iterator str2_Iter;
   cout << "The original string object str2 is: " << str2
        << "." << endl;
   str2_Iter = str2.erase ( str2.begin ( ) + 5 );
   cout << "The first element after those removed is: "
        << *str2_Iter << "." << endl;
   cout << "The modified string object str2 is: " << str2
        << "." << endl << endl;

   // The 3rd member function erasing a number of chars
   // after a char
   string str3 ( "Hello computer" ), str3m;
   basic_string <char>::iterator str3_Iter;
   cout << "The original string object str3 is: "
        << str3 << "." << endl;
   str3m = str3.erase ( 6 , 8 );
   cout << "The modified string object str3m is: "
        << str3m << "." << endl;
}

The original string object str1 is: Hello world.
The first element after those removed is: d.
The modified string object str1 is: Held.

The original string object str2 is: Hello World.
The first element after those removed is: W.
The modified string object str2 is: HelloWorld.

The original string object str3 is: Hello computer.
The modified string object str3m is: Hello .

`basic_string::find`

Searches a string in a forward direction for the first occurrence of a substring that matches a specified sequence of characters.

size_type find(
    value_type char_value,
    size_type offset = 0) const;

size_type find(
    const value_type* ptr,
    size_type offset = 0) const;

size_type find(
    const value_type* ptr,
    size_type offset,
    size_type count) const;

size_type find(
    const basic_string<CharType, Traits, Allocator>& str,
    size_type offset = 0) const;

Parameters

char_value
The character value for which the member function is to search.

offset
Index of the position at which the search is to begin.

ptr
The C-string for which the member function is to search.

count
The number of characters, counting forward from the first character, in the C-string for which the member function is to search.

str
The string for which the member function is to search.

Return value

The index of the first character of the substring searched for when successful; otherwise npos.

Example

// basic_string_find.cpp
// compile with: /EHsc
#include <string>
#include <iostream>

int main( )
{
   using namespace std;

   // The first member function
   // searches for a single character in a string
   string str1 ( "Hello Everyone" );
   cout << "The original string str1 is: " << str1 << endl;
   basic_string <char>::size_type indexCh1a, indexCh1b;

   indexCh1a = str1.find ( "e" , 3 );
   if (indexCh1a != string::npos )
      cout << "The index of the 1st 'e' found after the 3rd"
           << " position in str1 is: " << indexCh1a << endl;
   else
      cout << "The character 'e' was not found in str1 ." << endl;

   indexCh1b = str1.find ( "x" );
   if (indexCh1b != string::npos )
      cout << "The index of the 'x' found in str1 is: "
           << indexCh1b << endl << endl;
   else
      cout << "The Character 'x' was not found in str1."
           << endl << endl;

   // The second member function searches a string
   // for a substring as specified by a C-string
   string str2 ( "Let me make this perfectly clear." );
   cout << "The original string str2 is: " << str2 << endl;
   basic_string <char>::size_type indexCh2a, indexCh2b;

   const char *cstr2 = "perfect";
   indexCh2a = str2.find ( cstr2 , 5 );
   if ( indexCh2a != string::npos )
      cout << "The index of the 1st element of 'perfect' "
           << "after\n the 5th position in str2 is: "
           << indexCh2a << endl;
   else
      cout << "The substring 'perfect' was not found in str2 ."
           << endl;

   const char *cstr2b = "imperfectly";
   indexCh2b = str2.find ( cstr2b , 0 );
   if (indexCh2b != string::npos )
      cout << "The index of the 1st element of 'imperfect' "
           << "after\n the 5th position in str3 is: "
           << indexCh2b << endl;
   else
      cout << "The substring 'imperfect' was not found in str2 ."
           << endl << endl;

   // The third member function searches a string
   // for a substring as specified by a C-string
   string str3 ( "This is a sample string for this program" );
   cout << "The original string str3 is: " << str3 << endl;
   basic_string <char>::size_type indexCh3a, indexCh3b;

   const char *cstr3a = "sample";
   indexCh3a = str3.find ( cstr3a );
   if ( indexCh3a != string::npos )
      cout << "The index of the 1st element of sample "
           << "in str3 is: " << indexCh3a << endl;
   else
      cout << "The substring 'sample' was not found in str3 ."
           << endl;

   const char *cstr3b = "for";
   indexCh3b = str3.find ( cstr3b , indexCh3a + 1 , 2 );
   if (indexCh3b != string::npos )
      cout << "The index of the next occurrence of 'for' is in "
           << "str3 begins at: " << indexCh3b << endl << endl;
   else
      cout << "There is no next occurrence of 'for' in str3 ."
           << endl << endl;

   // The fourth member function searches a string
   // for a substring as specified by a string
   string str4 ( "clearly this perfectly unclear." );
   cout << "The original string str4 is: " << str4 << endl;
   basic_string <char>::size_type indexCh4a, indexCh4b;

   string str4a ( "clear" );
   indexCh4a = str4.find ( str4a , 5 );
   if ( indexCh4a != string::npos )
      cout << "The index of the 1st element of 'clear' "
           << "after\n the 5th position in str4 is: "
           << indexCh4a << endl;
   else
      cout << "The substring 'clear' was not found in str4 ."
           << endl;

   string str4b ( "clear" );
   indexCh4b = str4.find ( str4b );
   if (indexCh4b != string::npos )
      cout << "The index of the 1st element of 'clear' "
           << "in str4 is: "
           << indexCh4b << endl;
   else
      cout << "The substring 'clear' was not found in str4 ."
           << endl << endl;
}

The original string str1 is: Hello Everyone
The index of the 1st 'e' found after the 3rd position in str1 is: 8
The Character 'x' was not found in str1.

The original string str2 is: Let me make this perfectly clear.
The index of the 1st element of 'perfect' after
the 5th position in str2 is: 17
The substring 'imperfect' was not found in str2 .

The original string str3 is: This is a sample string for this program
The index of the 1st element of sample in str3 is: 10
The index of the next occurrence of 'for' is in str3 begins at: 24

The original string str4 is: clearly this perfectly unclear.
The index of the 1st element of 'clear' after
the 5th position in str4 is: 25
The index of the 1st element of 'clear' in str4 is: 0

`basic_string::find_first_not_of`

Searches through a string for the first character that isn't an element of a specified string.

size_type find_first_not_of(
    value_type char_value,
    size_type offset = 0) const;

size_type find_first_not_of(
    const value_type* ptr,
    size_type offset = 0) const;

size_type find_first_not_of(
    const value_type* ptr,
    size_type offset,
    size_type count) const;

size_type find_first_not_of(
    const basic_string<CharType, Traits, Allocator>& str,
    size_type offset = 0) const;

Parameters

char_value
The character value for which the member function is to search.

offset
Index of the position at which the search is to begin.

ptr
The C-string for which the member function is to search.

count
The number of characters, counting forward from the first character, in the C-string for which the member function is to search.

str
The string for which the member function is to search.

Return value

The index of the first character of the substring searched for when successful; otherwise npos.

Example

// basic_string_find_first_not_of.cpp
// compile with: /EHsc
#include <string>
#include <iostream>

int main( )
{
   using namespace std;

   // The first member function
   // searches for a single character in a string
   string str1 ( "xddd-1234-abcd" );
   cout << "The original string str1 is: " << str1 << endl;
   basic_string <char>::size_type indexCh1a, indexCh1b;
   static const basic_string <char>::size_type npos = -1;

   indexCh1a = str1.find_first_not_of ( "d" , 2 );
   if ( indexCh1a != npos )
      cout << "The index of the 1st 'd' found after the 3rd"
           << " position in str1 is: " << indexCh1a << endl;
   else
      cout << "The character 'd' was not found in str1 ." << endl;

   indexCh1b = str1.find_first_not_of  ( "x" );
   if (indexCh1b != npos )
      cout << "The index of the 'non x' found in str1 is: "
           << indexCh1b << endl << endl;
   else
      cout << "The character 'non x' was not found in str1."
           << endl << endl;

   // The second member function searches a string
   // for a substring as specified by a C-string
   string str2 ( "BBB-1111" );
   cout << "The original string str2 is: " << str2 << endl;
   basic_string <char>::size_type indexCh2a, indexCh2b;

   const char *cstr2 = "B1";
   indexCh2a = str2.find_first_not_of ( cstr2 , 6 );
   if ( indexCh2a != npos )
      cout << "The index of the 1st occurrence of an "
           << "element of 'B1' in str2 after\n the 6th "
           << "position is: " << indexCh2a << endl;
   else
      cout << "Elements of the substring 'B1' were not"
           << "\n found in str2 after the 6th position."
           << endl;

   const char *cstr2b = "B2";
   indexCh2b = str2.find_first_not_of ( cstr2b );
   if ( indexCh2b != npos )
      cout << "The index of the 1st element of 'B2' "
           << "after\n the 0th position in str2 is: "
           << indexCh2b << endl << endl;
   else
      cout << "The substring 'B2' was not found in str2 ."
           << endl << endl << endl;

   // The third member function searches a string
   // for a substring as specified by a C-string
   string str3 ( "444-555-GGG" );
   cout << "The original string str3 is: " << str3 << endl;
   basic_string <char>::size_type indexCh3a, indexCh3b;

   const char *cstr3a = "45G";
   indexCh3a = str3.find_first_not_of ( cstr3a );
   if ( indexCh3a != npos )
      cout << "The index of the 1st occurrence of an "
           << "element in str3\n other than one of the "
           << "characters in '45G' is: " << indexCh3a
           << endl;
   else
      cout << "Elements in str3 contain only characters "
           << " in the string '45G'. "
           << endl;

   const char *cstr3b = "45G";
   indexCh3b = str3.find_first_not_of ( cstr3b , indexCh3a + 1 , 2 );
   if ( indexCh3b != npos )
      cout << "The index of the second occurrence of an "
           << "element of '45G' in str3\n after the 0th "
           << "position is: " << indexCh3b << endl << endl;
   else
      cout << "Elements in str3 contain only characters "
           << " in the string  '45G'. "
           << endl  << endl;

   // The fourth member function searches a string
   // for a substring as specified by a string
   string str4 ( "12-ab-12-ab" );
   cout << "The original string str4 is: " << str4 << endl;
   basic_string <char>::size_type indexCh4a, indexCh4b;

   string str4a ( "ba3" );
   indexCh4a = str4.find_first_not_of ( str4a , 5 );
   if (indexCh4a != npos )
      cout << "The index of the 1st non occurrence of an "
           << "element of 'ba3' in str4 after\n the 5th "
           << "position is: " << indexCh4a << endl;
   else
      cout << "Elements other than those in the substring"
           << " 'ba3' were not found in the string str4."
           << endl;

   string str4b ( "12" );
   indexCh4b = str4.find_first_not_of ( str4b  );
   if (indexCh4b != npos )
      cout << "The index of the 1st non occurrence of an "
           << "element of '12' in str4 after\n the 0th "
           << "position is: " << indexCh4b << endl;
   else
      cout << "Elements other than those in the substring"
           << " '12' were not found in the string str4."
           << endl;
}

The original string str1 is: xddd-1234-abcd
The index of the 1st 'd' found after the 3rd position in str1 is: 4
The index of the 'non x' found in str1 is: 1

The original string str2 is: BBB-1111
Elements of the substring 'B1' were not
found in str2 after the 6th position.
The index of the 1st element of 'B2' after
the 0th position in str2 is: 3

The original string str3 is: 444-555-GGG
The index of the 1st occurrence of an element in str3
other than one of the characters in '45G' is: 3
The index of the second occurrence of an element of '45G' in str3
after the 0th position is: 7

The original string str4 is: 12-ab-12-ab
The index of the 1st non occurrence of an element of 'ba3' in str4 after
the 5th position is: 5
The index of the 1st non occurrence of an element of '12' in str4 after
the 0th position is: 2

`basic_string::find_first_of`

Searches through a string for the first character that matches any element of a specified string.

size_type find_first_of(
    value_type char_value,
    size_type offset = 0) const;

size_type find_first_of(
    const value_type* ptr,
    size_type offset = 0) const;

size_type find_first_of(
    const value_type* ptr,
    size_type offset,
    size_type count) const;

size_type find_first_of(
    const basic_string<CharType, Traits, Allocator>& str,
    size_type offset = 0) const;

Parameters

char_value
The character value for which the member function is to search.

offset
Index of the position at which the search is to begin.

ptr
The C-string for which the member function is to search.

count
The number of characters, counting forward from the first character, in the C-string for which the member function is to search.

str
The string for which the member function is to search.

Return value

The index of the first character of the substring searched for when successful; otherwise npos.

Example

// basic_string_find_first_of.cpp
// compile with: /EHsc
#include <string>
#include <iostream>

int main( )
{
   using namespace std;

   // The first member function
   // searches for a single character in a string
   string str1 ( "abcd-1234-abcd-1234" );
   cout << "The original string str1 is: " << str1 << endl;
   basic_string <char>::size_type indexCh1a, indexCh1b;
   static const basic_string <char>::size_type npos = -1;

   indexCh1a = str1.find_first_of ( "d" , 5 );
   if ( indexCh1a != npos )
      cout << "The index of the 1st 'd' found after the 5th"
           << " position in str1 is: " << indexCh1a << endl;
   else
      cout << "The character 'd' was not found in str1 ." << endl;

   indexCh1b = str1.find_first_of ( "x" );
   if ( indexCh1b != npos )
      cout << "The index of the 'x' found in str1 is: "
           << indexCh1b << endl << endl;
   else
      cout << "The character 'x' was not found in str1."
           << endl << endl;

   // The second member function searches a string
   // for any element of a substring as specified by a C-string
   string str2 ( "ABCD-1234-ABCD-1234" );
   cout << "The original string str2 is: " << str2 << endl;
   basic_string <char>::size_type indexCh2a, indexCh2b;

   const char *cstr2 = "B1";
   indexCh2a = str2.find_first_of ( cstr2 , 6 );
   if ( indexCh2a != npos )
      cout << "The index of the 1st occurrence of an "
           << "element of 'B1' in str2 after\n the 6th "
           << "position is: " << indexCh2a << endl;
   else
      cout << "Elements of the substring 'B1' were not "
           << "found in str2 after the 10th position."
           << endl;

   const char *cstr2b = "D2";
   indexCh2b = str2.find_first_of ( cstr2b );
   if ( indexCh2b != npos )
      cout << "The index of the 1st element of 'D2' "
           << "after\n the 0th position in str2 is: "
           << indexCh2b << endl << endl;
   else
      cout << "The substring 'D2' was not found in str2 ."
           << endl << endl << endl;

   // The third member function searches a string
   // for any element of a substring as specified by a C-string
   string str3 ( "123-abc-123-abc-456-EFG-456-EFG" );
   cout << "The original string str3 is: " << str3 << endl;
   basic_string <char>::size_type indexCh3a, indexCh3b;

   const char *cstr3a = "5G";
   indexCh3a = str3.find_first_of ( cstr3a );
   if ( indexCh3a != npos )
      cout << "The index of the 1st occurrence of an "
           << "element of '5G' in str3 after\n the 0th "
           << "position is: " << indexCh3a << endl;
   else
      cout << "Elements of the substring '5G' were not "
           << "found in str3\n after the 0th position."
           << endl;

   const char *cstr3b = "5GF";
   indexCh3b = str3.find_first_of  ( cstr3b , indexCh3a + 1 , 2 );
   if (indexCh3b != npos )
      cout << "The index of the second occurrence of an "
           << "element of '5G' in str3\n after the 0th "
           << "position is: " << indexCh3b << endl << endl;
   else
      cout << "Elements of the substring '5G' were not "
           << "found in str3\n after the first occurrrence."
           << endl << endl;

   // The fourth member function searches a string
   // for any element of a substring as specified by a string
   string str4 ( "12-ab-12-ab" );
   cout << "The original string str4 is: " << str4 << endl;
   basic_string <char>::size_type indexCh4a, indexCh4b;

   string str4a ( "ba3" );
   indexCh4a = str4.find_first_of ( str4a , 5 );
   if ( indexCh4a != npos )
      cout << "The index of the 1st occurrence of an "
           << "element of 'ba3' in str4 after\n the 5th "
           << "position is: " << indexCh4a << endl;
   else
      cout << "Elements of the substring 'ba3' were not "
           << "found in str4\n after the 0th position."
           << endl;

   string str4b ( "a2" );
   indexCh4b = str4.find_first_of ( str4b );
   if ( indexCh4b != npos )
      cout << "The index of the 1st occurrence of an "
           << "element of 'a2' in str4 after\n the 0th "
           << "position is: " << indexCh4b << endl;
   else
      cout << "Elements of the substring 'a2' were not "
           << "found in str4\n after the 0th position."
           << endl;
}

The original string str1 is: abcd-1234-abcd-1234
The index of the 1st 'd' found after the 5th position in str1 is: 13
The character 'x' was not found in str1.

The original string str2 is: ABCD-1234-ABCD-1234
The index of the 1st occurrence of an element of 'B1' in str2 after
the 6th position is: 11
The index of the 1st element of 'D2' after
the 0th position in str2 is: 3

The original string str3 is: 123-abc-123-abc-456-EFG-456-EFG
The index of the 1st occurrence of an element of '5G' in str3 after
the 0th position is: 17
The index of the second occurrence of an element of '5G' in str3
after the 0th position is: 22

The original string str4 is: 12-ab-12-ab
The index of the 1st occurrence of an element of 'ba3' in str4 after
the 5th position is: 9
The index of the 1st occurrence of an element of 'a2' in str4 after
the 0th position is: 1

`basic_string::find_last_not_of`

Searches through a string for the last character that isn't any element of a specified string.

size_type find_last_not_of(
    value_type char_value,
    size_type offset = npos) const;

size_type find_last_not_of(
    const value_type* ptr,
    size_type offset = npos) const;

size_type find_last_not_of(
    const value_type* ptr,
    size_type offset,
    size_type count) const;

size_type find_last_not_of(
    const basic_string<CharType, Traits, Allocator>& str,
    size_type offset = npos) const;

Parameters

char_value
The character value for which the member function is to search.

offset
Index of the position at which the search is to finish.

ptr
The C-string for which the member function is to search.

count
The number of characters, counting forward from the first character, in the C-string for which the member function is to search.

str
The string for which the member function is to search.

Return value

The index of the first character of the substring searched for when successful; otherwise npos.

Example

// basic_string_find_last_not_of.cpp
// compile with: /EHsc
#include <string>
#include <iostream>

int main( )
{
   using namespace std;

   // The first member function
   // searches for a single character in a string
   string str1 ( "dddd-1dd4-abdd" );
   cout << "The original string str1 is: " << str1 << endl;
   basic_string <char>::size_type indexCh1a, indexCh1b;
   static const basic_string <char>::size_type npos = -1;

   indexCh1a = str1.find_last_not_of ( "d" , 7 );
   if ( indexCh1a != npos )
      cout << "The index of the last non 'd'\n found before the "
           << "7th position in str1 is: " << indexCh1a << endl;
   else
      cout << "The non 'd' character was not found ." << endl;

   indexCh1b = str1.find_last_not_of  ( "d" );
   if ( indexCh1b != npos )
      cout << "The index of the non 'd' found in str1 is: "
           << indexCh1b << endl << endl;
   else
      cout << "The Character 'non x' was not found in str1."
           << endl << endl;

   // The second member function searches a string
   // for a substring as specified by a C-string
   string str2 ( "BBB-1111" );
   cout << "The original string str2 is: " << str2 << endl;
   basic_string <char>::size_type indexCh2a, indexCh2b;

   const char *cstr2 = "B1";
   indexCh2a = str2.find_last_not_of  ( cstr2 , 6 );
   if ( indexCh2a != npos )
      cout << "The index of the last occurrence of a "
           << "element\n not of 'B1' in str2 before the 6th "
           << "position is: " << indexCh2a << endl;
   else
      cout << "Elements not of the substring 'B1' were not "
           << "\n found in str2 before the 6th position."
           << endl;

   const char *cstr2b = "B-1";
   indexCh2b = str2.find_last_not_of  ( cstr2b );
   if ( indexCh2b != npos )
      cout << "The index of the last element not "
           << "in 'B-1'\n is: "
           << indexCh2b << endl << endl;
   else
      cout << "The elements of the substring 'B-1' were "
           << "not found in str2 ."
           << endl << endl;

   // The third member function searches a string
   // for a substring as specified by a C-string
   string str3 ( "444-555-GGG" );
   cout << "The original string str3 is: " << str3 << endl;
   basic_string <char>::size_type indexCh3a, indexCh3b;

   const char *cstr3a = "45G";
   indexCh3a = str3.find_last_not_of ( cstr3a );
   if ( indexCh3a != npos )
      cout << "The index of the last occurrence of an "
           << "element in str3\n other than one of the "
           << "characters in '45G' is: " << indexCh3a
           << endl;
   else
      cout << "Elements in str3 contain only characters "
           << " in the string  '45G'. "
           << endl;

   const char *cstr3b = "45G";
   indexCh3b = str3.find_last_not_of ( cstr3b , 6 , indexCh3a - 1 );
   if (indexCh3b != npos )
      cout << "The index of the penultimate occurrence of an "
           << "element\n not in '45G' in str3 is: "
           << indexCh3b << endl << endl;
   else
      cout << "Elements in str3 contain only characters "
           << " in the string '45G'. "
           << endl  << endl;

   // The fourth member function searches a string
   // for a substring as specified by a string
   string str4 ( "12-ab-12-ab" );
   cout << "The original string str4 is: " << str4 << endl;
   basic_string <char>::size_type indexCh4a, indexCh4b;

   string str4a ( "b-a" );
   indexCh4a = str4.find_last_not_of  ( str4a , 5 );
   if ( indexCh4a != npos )
      cout << "The index of the last occurrence of an "
           << "element not\n in 'b-a' in str4 before the 5th "
           << "position is: " << indexCh4a << endl;
   else
      cout << "Elements other than those in the substring"
           << " 'b-a' were not found in the string str4."
           << endl;

   string str4b ( "12" );
   indexCh4b = str4.find_last_not_of ( str4b  );
   if ( indexCh4b != npos )
      cout << "The index of the last occurrence of an "
           << "element not in '12'\n in str4 before the end "
           << "position is: " << indexCh4b << endl;
   else
      cout << "Elements other than those in the substring"
           << " '12'\n were not found in the string str4."
           << endl;
}

The original string str1 is: dddd-1dd4-abdd
The index of the last non 'd'
found before the 7th position in str1 is: 5
The index of the non 'd' found in str1 is: 11

The original string str2 is: BBB-1111
The index of the last occurrence of a element
not of 'B1' in str2 before the 6th position is: 3
The elements of the substring 'B-1' were not found in str2 .

The original string str3 is: 444-555-GGG
The index of the last occurrence of an element in str3
other than one of the characters in '45G' is: 7
The index of the penultimate occurrence of an element
not in '45G' in str3 is: 3

The original string str4 is: 12-ab-12-ab
The index of the last occurrence of an element not
in 'b-a' in str4 before the 5th position is: 1
The index of the last occurrence of an element not in '12'
in str4 before the end position is: 10

`basic_string::find_last_of`

Searches through a string for the last character that matches any element of a specified string.

size_type find_last_of(
    value_type char_value,
    size_type offset = npos) const;

size_type find_last_of(
    const value_type* ptr,
    size_type offset = npos) const;

size_type find_last_of(
    const value_type* ptr,
    size_type offset,
    size_type count) const;

size_type find_last_of(
    const basic_string<CharType, Traits, Allocator>& str,
    size_type offset = npos) const;

Parameters

char_value
The character value for which the member function is to search.

offset
Index of the position at which the search is to finish.

ptr
The C-string for which the member function is to search.

count
The number of characters, counting forward from the first character, in the C-string for which the member function is to search.

str
The string for which the member function is to search.

Return value

The index of the last character of the substring searched for when successful; otherwise npos.

Example

// basic_string_find_last_of.cpp
// compile with: /EHsc
#include <string>
#include <iostream>

int main( )
{
   using namespace std;

   // The first member function
   // searches for a single character in a string
   string str1 ( "abcd-1234-abcd-1234" );
   cout << "The original string str1 is: " << str1 << endl;
   basic_string <char>::size_type indexCh1a, indexCh1b;
   static const basic_string <char>::size_type npos = -1;

   indexCh1a = str1.find_last_of ( "d" , 14 );
   if ( indexCh1a != npos )
      cout << "The index of the last 'd' found before the 14th"
           << " position in str1 is: " << indexCh1a << endl;
   else
      cout << "The character 'd' was not found in str1 ." << endl;

   indexCh1b = str1.find_first_of ( "x" );
   if ( indexCh1b != npos )
      cout << "The index of the 'x' found in str1 is: "
           << indexCh1b << endl << endl;
   else
      cout << "The character 'x' was not found in str1."
           << endl << endl;

   // The second member function searches a string
   // for a substring as specified by a C-string
   string str2 ( "ABCD-1234-ABCD-1234" );
   cout << "The original string str2 is: " << str2 << endl;
   basic_string <char>::size_type indexCh2a, indexCh2b;

   const char *cstr2 = "B1";
   indexCh2a = str2.find_last_of  ( cstr2 , 12 );
   if (indexCh2a != npos )
      cout << "The index of the last occurrence of an "
           << "element of 'B1' in str2 before\n the 12th "
           << "position is: " << indexCh2a << endl;
   else
      cout << "Elements of the substring 'B1' were not "
           << "found in str2 before the 12th position."
           << endl;

   const char *cstr2b = "D2";
   indexCh2b = str2.find_last_of  ( cstr2b );
   if ( indexCh2b != npos )
      cout << "The index of the last element of 'D2' "
           << "after\n the 0th position in str2 is: "
           << indexCh2b << endl << endl;
   else
      cout << "The substring 'D2' was not found in str2 ."
           << endl << endl << endl;

   // The third member function searches a string
   // for a substring as specified by a C-string
   string str3 ( "456-EFG-456-EFG" );
   cout << "The original string str3 is: " << str3 << endl;
   basic_string <char>::size_type indexCh3a;

   const char *cstr3a = "5E";
   indexCh3a = str3.find_last_of ( cstr3a , 8 , 8 );
   if ( indexCh3a != npos )
      cout << "The index of the last occurrence of an "
           << "element of '5E' in str3 before\n the 8th "
           << "position is: " << indexCh3a << endl << endl;
   else
      cout << "Elements of the substring '5G' were not "
           << "found in str3\n before the 8th position."
           << endl << endl;

   // The fourth member function searches a string
   // for a substring as specified by a string
   string str4 ( "12-ab-12-ab" );
   cout << "The original string str4 is: " << str4 << endl;
   basic_string <char>::size_type indexCh4a, indexCh4b;

   string str4a ( "ba3" );
   indexCh4a = str4.find_last_of  ( str4a , 8 );
   if ( indexCh4a != npos )
      cout << "The index of the last occurrence of an "
           << "element of 'ba3' in str4 before\n the 8th "
           << "position is: " << indexCh4a << endl;
   else
      cout << "Elements of the substring 'ba3' were not "
           << "found in str4\n after the 0th position."
           << endl;

   string str4b ( "a2" );
   indexCh4b = str4.find_last_of ( str4b  );
   if ( indexCh4b != npos )
      cout << "The index of the last occurrence of an "
           << "element of 'a2' in str4 before\n the 0th "
           << "position is: " << indexCh4b << endl;
   else
      cout << "Elements of the substring 'a2' were not "
           << "found in str4\n after the 0th position."
           << endl;
}

The original string str1 is: abcd-1234-abcd-1234
The index of the last 'd' found before the 14th position in str1 is: 13
The character 'x' was not found in str1.

The original string str2 is: ABCD-1234-ABCD-1234
The index of the last occurrence of an element of 'B1' in str2 before
the 12th position is: 11
The index of the last element of 'D2' after
the 0th position in str2 is: 16

The original string str3 is: 456-EFG-456-EFG
The index of the last occurrence of an element of '5E' in str3 before
the 8th position is: 4

The original string str4 is: 12-ab-12-ab
The index of the last occurrence of an element of 'ba3' in str4 before
the 8th position is: 4
The index of the last occurrence of an element of 'a2' in str4 before
the 0th position is: 9

`basic_string::front`

Returns a reference to the first element in a string.

const_reference front() const;

reference front();

Return value

A reference to the first element of the string, which must be non-empty.

Remarks

`basic_string::get_allocator`

Returns a copy of the allocator object used to construct the string.

allocator_type get_allocator() const;

Return value

The allocator used by the string.

Remarks

The member function returns the stored allocator object.

Allocators for the string class specify how the class manages storage. The default allocators supplied with container classes are sufficient for most programming needs. Writing and using your own allocator class is an advanced C++ feature.

Example

// basic_string_get_allocator.cpp
// compile with: /EHsc
#include <string>
#include <iostream>

int main( )
{
   using namespace std;
   // The following lines declare objects
   // that use the default allocator.
   string s1;
   basic_string <char> s2;
   basic_string <char, char_traits< char >, allocator< char > > s3;

   // s4 will use the same allocator class as s1
   basic_string <char> s4( s1.get_allocator ( ) );

   basic_string <char>::allocator_type xchar = s1.get_allocator( );
   // You can now call functions on the allocator class xchar used by s1
}

`basic_string::insert`

Inserts an element, several elements, or a range of elements into the string at a specified position.

basic_string<CharType, Traits, Allocator>& insert(
    size_type position,
    const value_type* ptr);

basic_string<CharType, Traits, Allocator>& insert(
    size_type position,
    const value_type* ptr,
    size_type count);

basic_string<CharType, Traits, Allocator>& insert(
    size_type position,
    const basic_string<CharType, Traits, Allocator>& str);

basic_string<CharType, Traits, Allocator>& insert(
    size_type position,
    const basic_string<CharType, Traits, Allocator>& str,
    size_type offset,
    size_type count);

basic_string<CharType, Traits, Allocator>& insert(
    size_type position,
    size_type count,
    value_type char_value);

iterator insert(
    iterator iter);

iterator insert(
    iterator iter,
    value_type char_value)l
template <class InputIterator>
void insert(
    iterator iter,
    InputIterator first,
    InputIterator last);

void insert(
    iterator iter,
    size_type count,
    value_type char_value);

void insert(
    iterator iter,
    const_pointer first,
    const_pointer last);

void insert(
    iterator iter,
    const_iterator first,
    const_iterator last);

Parameters

position
The index of the position behind the point of insertion the new characters.

ptr
The C-string to be wholly or partly inserted into the string.

count
The number of characters to be inserted.

str
The string to be wholly or partly inserted into the target string.

offset
The index of the part of the source string supplying the characters to be appended.

char_value
The character value of the elements to be inserted.

iter
An iterator addressing the position behind which a character is to be inserted.

first
An input iterator, const_pointer, or const_iterator addressing the first element in the source range to be inserted.

last
An input iterator, const_pointer, or const_iterator addressing the position of the one beyond the last element in the source range to be inserted.

Return value

The functions that return a value return either:

A reference to the basic_string that contains the original string plus the new characters.
An iterator at the start of the inserted character(s).

Example

// basic_string_insert.cpp
// compile with: /EHsc
#include <string>
#include <iostream>

int main( )
{
   using namespace std;

   // The first member function inserting a C-string
   // at a given position
   basic_string <char> str1a ( "way" );
   const char *cstr1a = "a";
   str1a.insert ( 0, cstr1a );
   cout << "The string with a C-string inserted at position 0 is: "
        << str1a << "." << endl;

   // The second member function inserting a C-string
   // at a given position for a specified number of elements
   basic_string <char> str2a ( "Good" );
   const char *cstr2a = "Bye Bye Baby";
   str2a.insert ( 4, cstr2a ,3 );
   cout << "The string with a C-string inserted at the end is: "
        << str2a << "." << endl;

   // The third member function inserting a string
   // at a given position
   basic_string <char> str3a ( "Bye" );
   string str3b ( "Good" );
   str3a.insert ( 0, str3b );
   cout << "The string with a string inserted at position 0 is: "
        << str3a << "." << endl;

   // The fourth member function inserting part of
   // a string at a given position
   basic_string <char> str4a ( "Good " );
   string str4b ( "Bye Bye Baby" );
   str4a.insert ( 5, str4b , 8 , 4 );
   cout << "The string with part of a string inserted at position 4 is: "
        << str4a << "." << endl;

   // The fifth member function inserts a number of characters
   // at a specified position in the string
   string str5 ( "The number is: ." );
   str5.insert ( 15 , 3 , '3' );
   cout << "The string with characters inserted is: "
        << str5 << endl;

   // The sixth member function inserts a character
   // at a specified position in the string
   string str6 ( "ABCDFG" );
   basic_string <char>::iterator str6_Iter = ( str6.begin ( ) + 4 );
   str6.insert ( str6_Iter , 'e' );
   cout << "The string with a character inserted is: "
        << str6 << endl;

   // The seventh member function inserts a range
   // at a specified position in the string
   string str7a ( "ABCDHIJ" );
   string str7b ( "abcdefgh" );
   basic_string <char>::iterator str7a_Iter = (str7a.begin ( ) + 4 );
   str7a.insert ( str7a_Iter , str7b.begin ( ) + 4 , str7b.end ( ) -1 );
   cout << "The string with a character inserted from a range is: "
        << str7a << endl;

   // The eighth member function inserts a number of
   // characters at a specified position in the string
   string str8 ( "ABCDHIJ" );
   basic_string <char>::iterator str8_Iter = ( str8.begin ( ) + 4 );
   str8.insert ( str8_Iter , 3 , 'e' );
   cout << "The string with a character inserted from a range is: "
        << str8 << endl;
}

The string with a C-string inserted at position 0 is: away.
The string with a C-string inserted at the end is: GoodBye.
The string with a string inserted at position 0 is: GoodBye.
The string with part of a string inserted at position 4 is: Good Baby.
The string with characters inserted is: The number is: 333.
The string with a character inserted is: ABCDeFG
The string with a character inserted from a range is: ABCDefgHIJ
The string with a character inserted from a range is: ABCDeeeHIJ

`basic_string::iterator`

A type that provides a random-access iterator that can access and read a const element in the string.

typedef implementation-defined iterator;

Remarks

A type iterator can be used to modify the value of a character and is used to iterate through a string in a forward direction.

Example

See the example for begin for an example of how to declare and use iterator.

`basic_string::length`

Returns the current number of elements in a string.

size_type length() const;

Remarks

The member function is the same as size.

Example

// basic_string_length.cpp
// compile with: /EHsc
#include <string>
#include <iostream>

int main( )
{
   using namespace std;
   string str1 ("Hello world");
   cout << "The original string str1 is: " << str1 << endl;

   // The size and length member functions differ in name only
   basic_string <char>::size_type sizeStr1, lenStr1;
   sizeStr1 = str1.size ( );
   lenStr1 = str1.length ( );

   basic_string <char>::size_type capStr1, max_sizeStr1;
   capStr1 = str1.capacity ( );
   max_sizeStr1 = str1.max_size ( );

   // Compare size, length, capacity & max_size of a string
   cout << "The current size of original string str1 is: "
        << sizeStr1 << "." << endl;
   cout << "The current length of original string str1 is: "
        << lenStr1 << "." << endl;
   cout << "The capacity of original string str1 is: "
        << capStr1 << "." << endl;
   cout << "The max_size of original string str1 is: "
        << max_sizeStr1 << "." << endl << endl;

   str1.erase ( 6, 5 );
   cout << "The modified string str1 is: " << str1 << endl;

   sizeStr1 = str1.size ( );
   lenStr1 = str1.length ( );
   capStr1 = str1.capacity ( );
   max_sizeStr1 = str1.max_size ( );

   // Compare size, length, capacity & max_size of a string
   // after erasing part of the original string
   cout << "The current size of modified string str1 is: "
        << sizeStr1 << "." << endl;
   cout << "The current length of modified string str1 is: "
        << lenStr1 << "." << endl;
   cout << "The capacity of modified string str1 is: "
        << capStr1 << "." << endl;
   cout << "The max_size of modified string str1 is: "
        << max_sizeStr1 << "." << endl;
}

`basic_string::max_size`

Returns the maximum number of characters a string could contain.

size_type max_size() const;

Return value

The maximum number of characters a string could contain.

Remarks

An exception of type length_error Class is thrown when an operation produces a string with a length greater than the maximum size.

Example

// basic_string_max_size.cpp
// compile with: /EHsc
#include <string>
#include <iostream>

int main( )
{
   using namespace std;
   string str1 ("Hello world");
   cout << "The original string str1 is: " << str1 << endl;

   // The size and length member functions differ in name only
   basic_string <char>::size_type sizeStr1, lenStr1;
   sizeStr1 = str1.size ( );
   lenStr1 = str1.length ( );

   basic_string <char>::size_type capStr1, max_sizeStr1;
   capStr1 = str1.capacity ( );
   max_sizeStr1 = str1.max_size ( );

   // Compare size, length, capacity & max_size of a string
   cout << "The current size of original string str1 is: "
        << sizeStr1 << "." << endl;
   cout << "The current length of original string str1 is: "
        << lenStr1 << "." << endl;
   cout << "The capacity of original string str1 is: "
        << capStr1 << "." << endl;
   cout << "The max_size of original string str1 is: "
        << max_sizeStr1 << "." << endl << endl;

   str1.erase ( 6, 5 );
   cout << "The modified string str1 is: " << str1 << endl;

   sizeStr1 = str1.size ( );
   lenStr1 = str1.length ( );
   capStr1 = str1.capacity ( );
   max_sizeStr1 = str1.max_size ( );

   // Compare size, length, capacity & max_size of a string
   // after erasing part of the original string
   cout << "The current size of modified string str1 is: "
        << sizeStr1 << "." << endl;
   cout << "The current length of modified string str1 is: "
        << lenStr1 << "." << endl;
   cout << "The capacity of modified string str1 is: "
        << capStr1 << "." << endl;
   cout << "The max_size of modified string str1 is: "
        << max_sizeStr1 << "." << endl;
}

`basic_string::npos`

An unsigned integral value initialized to -1 that indicates either "not found" or "all remaining characters" when a search function fails.

static const size_type npos = -1;

Remarks

When the return value is to be checked for the npos value, it might not work unless the return value is of type size_type and not either int or unsigned.

Example

See the example for find for an example of how to declare and use npos.

`basic_string::operator+=`

Appends characters to a string.

basic_string<CharType, Traits, Allocator>& operator+=(
    value_type char_value);

basic_string<CharType, Traits, Allocator>& operator+=(
    const value_type* ptr);

basic_string<CharType, Traits, Allocator>& operator+=(
    const basic_string<CharType, Traits, Allocator>& right);

Parameters

char_value
The character to be appended.

ptr
The characters of the C-string to be appended.

right
The characters of the string to be appended.

Return value

A reference to the string object that is being appended with the characters passed by the member function.

Remarks

Characters may be appended to a string using the operator+= or the member functions append or push_back. The operator+= appends single-argument values while the multiple argument append member function allows a specific part of a string to be specified for adding.

Example

// basic_string_op_app.cpp
// compile with: /EHsc
#include <string>
#include <iostream>

int main( )
{
   using namespace std;

   // The first member function
   // appending a single character to a string
   string str1a ( "Hello" );
   cout << "The original string str1 is: " << str1a << endl;
   str1a +=  '!' ;
   cout << "The string str1 appended with an exclamation is: "
        << str1a << endl << endl;

   // The second member function
   // appending a C-string to a string
   string  str1b ( "Hello " );
   const char *cstr1b = "Out There";
   cout << "The C-string cstr1b is: " << cstr1b << endl;
   str1b +=  cstr1b;
   cout << "Appending the C-string cstr1b to string str1 gives: "
        << str1b << "." << endl << endl;

   // The third member function
   // appending one string to another in two ways,
   // comparing append and operator [ ]
   string str1d ( "Hello " ), str2d ( "Wide " ), str3d ( "World" );
   cout << "The string str2d is: " << str2d << endl;
   str1d.append ( str2d );
   cout << "The appended string str1d is: "
        << str1d << "." << endl;
   str1d += str3d;
   cout << "The doubly appended strig str1 is: "
        << str1d << "." << endl << endl;
}

The original string str1 is: Hello
The string str1 appended with an exclamation is: Hello!

The C-string cstr1b is: Out There
Appending the C-string cstr1b to string str1 gives: Hello Out There.

The string str2d is: Wide
The appended string str1d is: Hello Wide .
The doubly appended strig str1 is: Hello Wide World.

`basic_string::operator=`

Assigns new character values to the contents of a string.

basic_string<CharType, Traits, Allocator>& operator=(
    value_type char_value);

basic_string<CharType, Traits, Allocator>& operator=(
    const value_type* ptr);

basic_string<CharType, Traits, Allocator>& operator=(
    const basic_string<CharType, Traits, Allocator>& right);

basic_string<CharType, Traits, Allocator>& operator=(
    const basic_string<CharType, Traits, Allocator>&& right);

Parameters

char_value
The character value to be assigned.

ptr
A pointer to the characters of the C-string to be assigned to the target string.

right
The source string whose characters are to be assigned to the target string.

Return value

A reference to the string object that is being assigned new characters by the member function.

Remarks

The strings may be assigned new character values. The new value may be either a string and C-string or a single character. The operator= may be used if the new value can be described by a single parameter, otherwise the member function assign, which has multiple parameters, may be used to specify which part of the string is to be assigned to a target string.

Example

// basic_string_op_assign.cpp
// compile with: /EHsc
#include <string>
#include <iostream>

int main( )
{
   using namespace std;

   // The first member function assigning a
   // character of a certain value to a string
   string str1a ( "Hello " );
   str1a = '0';
   cout << "The string str1 assigned with the zero character is: "
        << str1a << endl << endl;

   // The second member function assigning the
   // characters of a C-string to a string
   string  str1b;
   const char *cstr1b = "Out There";
   cout << "The C-string cstr1b is: " << cstr1b <<  "." << endl;
   str1b = cstr1b;
   cout << "Assigning the C-string cstr1a to string str1 gives: "
        << str1b << "." << endl << endl;

   // The third member function assigning the characters
   // from one string to another string in two equivalent
   // ways, comparing the assign and operator =
   string str1c ( "Hello" ), str2c ( "Wide" ), str3c ( "World" );
   cout << "The original string str1 is: " << str1c << "." << endl;
   cout << "The string str2c is: " << str2c << "." << endl;
   str1c.assign ( str2c );
   cout << "The string str1 newly assigned with string str2c is: "
        << str1c << "." << endl;
   cout << "The string str3c is: " << str3c << "." << endl;
   str1c = str3c;
   cout << "The string str1 reassigned with string str3c is: "
        << str1c << "." << endl << endl;
}

The string str1 assigned with the zero character is: 0

The C-string cstr1b is: Out There.
Assigning the C-string cstr1a to string str1 gives: Out There.

The original string str1 is: Hello.
The string str2c is: Wide.
The string str1 newly assigned with string str2c is: Wide.
The string str3c is: World.
The string str1 reassigned with string str3c is: World.

`basic_string::operator[]`

Provides a reference to the character with a specified index in a string.

const_reference operator[](size_type offset) const;
reference operator[](size_type offset);

Parameters

offset
The index of the position of the element to be referenced.

Return value

A reference to the character of the string at the position specified by the parameter index.

Remarks

The first element of the string has an index of zero, and the following elements are indexed consecutively by the positive integers. It means that a string of length n has an nth element indexed by the number n - 1.

operator[] is faster than the member function at for providing read and write access to the elements of a string.

operator[] doesn't check whether the index passed as a parameter is valid, but the member function at does and so should be used in the validity isn't certain. An invalid index (an index less that zero or greater than or equal to the size of the string) passed to the member function at throws an out_of_range Class exception. An invalid index passed to operator[] results in undefined behavior, but the index equal to the length of the string is a valid index for const strings and the operator returns the null character when passed this index.

The reference returned may be invalidated by string reallocations or modifications for the non-const strings.

When compiling with _ITERATOR_DEBUG_LEVEL set to 1 or 2, a runtime error will occur if you attempt to access an element outside the bounds of the string. For more information, see Checked Iterators.

Example

// basic_string_op_ref.cpp
// compile with: /EHsc
#include <string>
#include <iostream>

int main( )
{
   using namespace std;
   string str1 ( "Hello world" ), str2 ( "Goodbye world" );
   const string cstr1 ( "Hello there" ), cstr2 ( "Goodbye now" );
   cout << "The original string str1 is: " << str1 << endl;
   cout << "The original string str2 is: " << str2 << endl;

   // Element access to the non-const strings
   basic_string <char>::reference refStr1 = str1 [6];
   basic_string <char>::reference refStr2 = str2.at ( 3 );

   cout << "The character with an index of 6 in string str1 is: "
        << refStr1 << "." << endl;
   cout << "The character with an index of 3 in string str2 is: "
        << refStr2 << "." << endl;

   // Element access to the const strings
   basic_string <char>::const_reference crefStr1 = cstr1 [ cstr1.length ( ) ];
   basic_string <char>::const_reference crefStr2 = cstr2.at ( 8 );

   if ( crefStr1 == '\0' )
      cout << "The null character is returned as a valid reference."
           << endl;
   else
      cout << "The null character is not returned." << endl;
   cout << "The character with index of 8 in the const string cstr2 is: "
        << crefStr2 << "." << endl;
}

`basic_string::pointer`

A type that provides a pointer to a character element in a string or character array.

typedef typename allocator_type::pointer pointer;

Remarks

The type is a synonym for allocator_type::pointer.

For type string, it's equivalent to char *.

Example

// basic_string_pointer.cpp
// compile with: /EHsc
#include <string>
#include <iostream>

int main( )
{
   using namespace std;
   basic_string<char>::pointer pstr1a = "In Here";
   char *cstr1b = "Out There";
   cout << "The string pstr1a is: " << pstr1a <<  "." << endl;
   cout << "The C-string cstr1b is: " << cstr1b << "." << endl;
}

The string pstr1a is: In Here.
The C-string cstr1b is: Out There.

`basic_string::pop_back`

Erases the last element of the string.

void pop_back();

Remarks

This member function effectively calls erase(size() - 1) to erase the last element of the sequence, which must be non-empty.

`basic_string::push_back`

Adds an element to the end of the string.

void push_back(value_type char_value);

Parameters

char_value
The character to be added to the end of the string.

Remarks

The member function effectively calls insert( end, char_value ). For more information, see insert and end.

Example

// basic_string_push_back.cpp
// compile with: /EHsc
#include <string>
#include <iostream>

int main( )
{
   using namespace std;
   string str1 ( "abc" );
   basic_string <char>::iterator str_Iter, str1_Iter;

   cout << "The original string str1 is: ";
   for ( str_Iter = str1.begin( ); str_Iter != str1.end( ); str_Iter++ )
      cout << *str_Iter;
   cout << endl;

   // str1.push_back ( 'd' );
   str1_Iter = str1.end ( );
   str1_Iter--;
   cout << "The last character-letter of the modified str1 is now: "
        << *str1_Iter << endl;

   cout << "The modified string str1 is: ";
   for ( str_Iter = str1.begin( ); str_Iter != str1.end( ); str_Iter++ )
      cout << *str_Iter;
   cout << endl;
}

The original string str1 is: abc
The last character-letter of the modified str1 is now: c
The modified string str1 is: abc

`basic_string::rbegin`

Returns an iterator to the first element in a reversed string.

const_reverse_iterator rbegin() const;

reverse_iterator rbegin();

Return value

Returns a random-access iterator to the first element in a reversed string, addressing what would be the last element in the corresponding unreversed string.

Remarks

rbegin is used with a reversed string just as begin is used with a string.

If the return value of rbegin is assigned to a const_reverse_iterator, the string object can't be modified. If the return value of rbegin is assigned to a reverse_iterator, the string object can be modified.

rbegin can be used to initialize an iteration through a string backwards.

Example

// basic_string_rbegin.cpp
// compile with: /EHsc
#include <string>
#include <iostream>

int main( )
{
   using namespace std;
   string str1 ( "Able was I ere I saw Elba" ), str2;
   basic_string <char>::reverse_iterator str_rIter, str1_rIter, str2_rIter;
   basic_string <char>::const_reverse_iterator str1_rcIter;

   str1_rIter = str1.rbegin ( );
   // str1_rIter--;
   cout << "The first character-letter of the reversed string str1 is: "
        << *str1_rIter << endl;
   cout << "The full reversed string str1 is:\n ";
   for ( str_rIter = str1.rbegin( ); str_rIter != str1.rend( ); str_rIter++ )
      cout << *str_rIter;
   cout << endl;

   // The dereferenced iterator can be used to modify a character
   *str1_rIter = 'A';
   cout << "The first character-letter of the modified str1 is now: "
        << *str1_rIter << endl;
   cout << "The full modified reversed string str1 is now:\n ";
   for ( str_rIter = str1.rbegin( ); str_rIter != str1.rend( ); str_rIter++ )
      cout << *str_rIter;
   cout << endl;

   // The following line would be an error because iterator is const
   // *str1_rcIter = 'A';

   // For an empty string, begin is equivalent to end
   if ( str2.rbegin( ) == str2.rend ( ) )
      cout << "The string str2 is empty." << endl;
   else
      cout << "The stringstr2  is not empty." << endl;
}

The first character-letter of the reversed string str1 is: a
The full reversed string str1 is:
ablE was I ere I saw elbA
The first character-letter of the modified str1 is now: A
The full modified reversed string str1 is now:
AblE was I ere I saw elbA
The string str2 is empty.

`basic_string::reference`

A type that provides a reference to an element stored in a string.

typedef typename allocator_type::reference reference;

Remarks

A type reference can be used to modify the value of an element.

The type is a synonym for allocator_type::reference.

For type string, it's equivalent to chr&.

Example

See the example for at for an example of how to declare and use reference.

`basic_string::rend`

Returns an iterator that addresses the location succeeding the last element in a reversed string.

const_reverse_iterator rend() const;

reverse_iterator rend();

Return value

A reverse random-access iterator that addresses the location succeeding the last element in a reversed string.

Remarks

rend is used with a reversed string just as end is used with a string.

If the return value of rend is assigned to a const_reverse_iterator, the string object can't be modified. If the return value of rend is assigned to a reverse_iterator, the string object can be modified.

rend can be used to test whether a reverse iterator has reached the end of its string.

The value returned by rend shouldn't be dereferenced.

Example

// basic_string_rend.cpp
// compile with: /EHsc
#include <string>
#include <iostream>

int main( )
{
   using namespace std;
   string str1 ("Able was I ere I saw Elba"), str2;
   basic_string <char>::reverse_iterator str_rIter, str1_rIter, str2_rIter;
   basic_string <char>::const_reverse_iterator str1_rcIter;

   str1_rIter = str1.rend ( );
   str1_rIter--;
   cout << "The last character-letter of the reversed string str1 is: "
        << *str1_rIter << endl;
   cout << "The full reversed string str1 is:\n ";
   for ( str_rIter = str1.rbegin( ); str_rIter != str1.rend( ); str_rIter++ )
      cout << *str_rIter;
   cout << endl;

   // The dereferenced iterator can be used to modify a character
   *str1_rIter = 'o';
   cout << "The last character-letter of the modified str1 is now: "
        << *str1_rIter << endl;
   cout << "The full modified reversed string str1 is now:\n ";
   for ( str_rIter = str1.rbegin( ); str_rIter != str1.rend( ); str_rIter++ )
      cout << *str_rIter;
   cout << endl;

   // The following line would be an error because iterator is const
   // *str1_rcIter = 'T';

   // For an empty string, end is equivalent to begin
   if ( str2.rbegin( ) == str2.rend ( ) )
      cout << "The string str2 is empty." << endl;
   else
      cout << "The stringstr2  is not empty." << endl;
}

The last character-letter of the reversed string str1 is: A
The full reversed string str1 is:
ablE was I ere I saw elbA
The last character-letter of the modified str1 is now: o
The full modified reversed string str1 is now:
ablE was I ere I saw elbo
The string str2 is empty.

`basic_string::replace`

Replaces elements in a string at a specified position with specified characters, or with characters copied from other ranges, strings, or C-strings.

basic_string<CharType, Traits, Allocator>& replace(
    size_type position_1,
    size_type number_1,
    const value_type* ptr);

basic_string<CharType, Traits, Allocator>& replace(
    size_type position_1,
    size_type number_1,
    const basic_string<CharType, Traits, Allocator>& str);

basic_string<CharType, Traits, Allocator>& replace(
    size_type position_1,
    size_type number_1,
    const value_type* ptr,
    size_type number_2);

basic_string<CharType, Traits, Allocator>& replace(
    size_type position_1,
    size_type number_1,
    const basic_string<CharType, Traits, Allocator>& str,
    size_type position_2,
    size_type number_2);

basic_string<CharType, Traits, Allocator>& replace(
    size_type position_1,
    size_type number_1,
    size_type count,
    value_type char_value);

basic_string<CharType, Traits, Allocator>& replace(
    iterator first0,
    iterator last0,
    const value_type* ptr);

basic_string<CharType, Traits, Allocator>& replace(
    iterator first0,
    iterator last0,
    const basic_string<CharType, Traits, Allocator>& str);

basic_string<CharType, Traits, Allocator>& replace(
    iterator first0,
    iterator last0,
    const value_type* ptr,
    size_type number_2);

basic_string<CharType, Traits, Allocator>& replace(
    iterator first0,
    iterator last0,
    size_type number_2,
    value_type char_value);

template <class InputIterator>
basic_string<CharType, Traits, Allocator>& replace(
    iterator first0,
    iterator last0,
    InputIterator first,
    InputIterator last);

basic_string<CharType, Traits, Allocator>& replace(
    iterator first0,
    iterator last0,
    const_pointer first,
    const_pointer last);

basic_string<CharType, Traits, Allocator>& replace(
    iterator first0,
    iterator last0,
    const_iterator first,
    const_iterator last);

Parameters

str
The string that is to be a source of characters for the operand string.

position_1
The index of the operand string at which the replacement begins.

number_1
The maximum number of characters to be replaced in the operand string.

position_2
The index of the parameter string at which the copying begins.

number_2
The maximum number of characters to be used from the parameter C-string.

ptr
The C-string that is to be a source of characters for the operand string.

char_value
The character to be copied into the operand string.

first0
An iterator addressing the first character to be removed in the operand string.

last0
An iterator addressing the last character to be removed in the operand string.

first
An iterator, const_pointer, or const_iterator addressing the first character to be copied in the parameter string.

last
An iterator, const_pointer, or const_iterator addressing the last character to be copied in the parameter string.

count
The number of times char_value is copied into the operand string.

Return value

The operand string with the replacement made.

Example

// basic_string_replace.cpp
// compile with: /EHsc
#include <string>
#include <iostream>

int main( )
{
   using namespace std;

   // The first two member functions replace
   // part of the operand string with
   // characters from a parameter string or C-string
   string result1a, result1b;
   string s1o ( "AAAAAAAA" );
   string s1p ( "BBB" );
   const char* cs1p = "CCC";
   cout << "The operand string s1o is: " << s1o << endl;
   cout << "The parameter string s1p is: " << s1p << endl;
   cout << "The parameter C-string cs1p is: " << cs1p << endl;
   result1a = s1o.replace ( 1 , 3 , s1p );
   cout << "The result of s1o.replace ( 1 , 3 , s1p )\n is "
        << "the string: " << result1a << "." << endl;
   result1b = s1o.replace ( 5 , 3 , cs1p );
   cout << "The result of s1o.replace ( 5 , 3 , cs1p )\n is "
        << "the string: " << result1b << "." << endl;
   cout << endl;

   // The third & fourth member function replace
   // part of the operand string with characters
   // form part of a parameter string or C-string
   string result2a, result2b;
   string s2o ( "AAAAAAAA" );
   string s2p ( "BBB" );
   const char* cs2p = "CCC";
   cout << "The operand string s2o is: " << s2o << endl;
   cout << "The parameter string s1p is: " << s2p << endl;
   cout << "The parameter C-string cs2p is: " << cs2p << endl;
   result2a = s2o.replace ( 1 , 3 , s2p , 1 , 2 );
   cout << "The result of s2o.replace (1, 3, s2p, 1, 2)\n is "
        << "the string: " << result2a << "." << endl;
   result2b = s2o.replace ( 4 , 3 , cs2p , 1 );
   cout << "The result of s2o.replace (4 ,3 ,cs2p)\n is "
        << "the string: " << result2b << "." << endl;
   cout << endl;

   // The fifth member function replaces
   // part of the operand string with characters
   string result3a;
   string s3o ( "AAAAAAAA" );
   char ch3p = 'C';
   cout << "The operand string s3o is: " << s3o << endl;
   cout << "The parameter character c1p is: " << ch3p << endl;
   result3a = s3o.replace ( 1 , 3 , 4 , ch3p );
   cout << "The result of s3o.replace(1, 3, 4, ch3p)\n is "
        << "the string: " << result3a << "." << endl;
   cout << endl;

   // The sixth & seventh member functions replace
   // part of the operand string, delineated with iterators,
   // with a parameter string or C-string
   string s4o ( "AAAAAAAA" );
   string s4p ( "BBB" );
   const char* cs4p = "CCC";
   cout << "The operand string s4o is: " << s4o << endl;
   cout << "The parameter string s4p is: " << s4p << endl;
   cout << "The parameter C-string cs4p is: " << cs4p << endl;
   basic_string<char>::iterator IterF0, IterL0;
   IterF0 = s4o.begin ( );
   IterL0 = s4o.begin ( ) + 3;
   string result4a, result4b;
   result4a = s4o.replace ( IterF0 , IterL0 , s4p );
   cout << "The result of s1o.replace (IterF0, IterL0, s4p)\n is "
        << "the string: " << result4a << "." << endl;
   result4b = s4o.replace ( IterF0 , IterL0 , cs4p );
   cout << "The result of s4o.replace (IterF0, IterL0, cs4p)\n is "
        << "the string: " << result4b << "." << endl;
   cout << endl;

   // The 8th member function replaces
   // part of the operand string delineated with iterators
   // with a number of characters from a parameter C-string
   string s5o ( "AAAAAAAF" );
   const char* cs5p = "CCCBB";
   cout << "The operand string s5o is: " << s5o << endl;
   cout << "The parameter C-string cs5p is: " << cs5p << endl;
   basic_string<char>::iterator IterF1, IterL1;
   IterF1 = s5o.begin ( );
   IterL1 = s5o.begin ( ) + 4;
   string result5a;
   result5a = s5o.replace ( IterF1 , IterL1 , cs5p , 4 );
   cout << "The result of s5o.replace (IterF1, IterL1, cs4p ,4)\n is "
        << "the string: " << result5a << "." << endl;
   cout << endl;

   // The 9th member function replaces
   // part of the operand string delineated with iterators
   // with specified characters
   string s6o ( "AAAAAAAG" );
   char ch6p = 'q';
   cout << "The operand string s6o is: " << s6o << endl;
   cout << "The parameter character ch6p is: " << ch6p << endl;
   basic_string<char>::iterator IterF2, IterL2;
   IterF2 = s6o.begin ( );
   IterL2 = s6o.begin ( ) + 3;
   string result6a;
   result6a = s6o.replace ( IterF2 , IterL2 , 4 , ch6p );
   cout << "The result of s6o.replace (IterF1, IterL1, 4, ch6p)\n is "
        << "the string: " << result6a << "." << endl;
   cout << endl;

   // The 10th member function replaces
   // part of the operand string delineated with iterators
   // with part of a parameter string delineated with iterators
   string s7o ( "OOOOOOO" );
   string s7p ( "PPPP" );
   cout << "The operand string s7o is: " << s7o << endl;
   cout << "The parameter string s7p is: " << s7p << endl;
   basic_string<char>::iterator IterF3, IterL3, IterF4, IterL4;
   IterF3 = s7o.begin ( ) + 1;
   IterL3 = s7o.begin ( ) + 3;
   IterF4 = s7p.begin ( );
   IterL4 = s7p.begin ( ) + 2;
   string result7a;
   result7a = s7o.replace ( IterF3 , IterL3 , IterF4 , IterL4 );
   cout << "The result of s7o.replace (IterF3 ,IterL3 ,IterF4 ,IterL4)\n is "
        << "the string: " << result7a << "." << endl;
   cout << endl;
}

The operand string s1o is: AAAAAAAA
The parameter string s1p is: BBB
The parameter C-string cs1p is: CCC
The result of s1o.replace ( 1 , 3 , s1p )
is the string: ABBBAAAA.
The result of s1o.replace ( 5 , 3 , cs1p )
is the string: ABBBACCC.

The operand string s2o is: AAAAAAAA
The parameter string s1p is: BBB
The parameter C-string cs2p is: CCC
The result of s2o.replace (1, 3, s2p, 1, 2)
is the string: ABBAAAA.
The result of s2o.replace (4 ,3 ,cs2p)
is the string: ABBAC.

The operand string s3o is: AAAAAAAA
The parameter character c1p is: C
The result of s3o.replace(1, 3, 4, ch3p)
is the string: ACCCCAAAA.

The operand string s4o is: AAAAAAAA
The parameter string s4p is: BBB
The parameter C-string cs4p is: CCC
The result of s1o.replace (IterF0, IterL0, s4p)
is the string: BBBAAAAA.
The result of s4o.replace (IterF0, IterL0, cs4p)
is the string: CCCAAAAA.

The operand string s5o is: AAAAAAAF
The parameter C-string cs5p is: CCCBB
The result of s5o.replace (IterF1, IterL1, cs4p ,4)
is the string: CCCBAAAF.

The operand string s6o is: AAAAAAAG
The parameter character ch6p is: q
The result of s6o.replace (IterF1, IterL1, 4, ch6p)
is the string: qqqqAAAAG.

The operand string s7o is: OOOOOOO
The parameter string s7p is: PPPP
The result of s7o.replace (IterF3 ,IterL3 ,IterF4 ,IterL4)
is the string: OPPOOOO.

`basic_string::reserve`

Sets the capacity of the string to a number at least as great as a specified number.

void reserve(size_type count = 0);

Parameters

count
The number of characters for which memory is being reserved.

Remarks

Having sufficient capacity is important because reallocation is a time-consuming process. And, it invalidates all references, pointers, and iterators that refer to characters in a string.

The concept of capacity for string object types is the same as for objects of type vector. Unlike vector, the member function reserve may be called to shrink the capacity of an object. The request is nonbinding and may or may not happen. As the default value for the parameter is zero, a call of reserve is a non-binding request to shrink the capacity of the string to fit the number of characters currently in the string. The capacity is never reduced below the current number of characters.

Calling reserve is the only possible way to shrink the capacity of a string. However, as noted above, this request is nonbinding and may not happen.

Example

// basic_string_reserve.cpp
// compile with: /EHsc
#include <string>
#include <iostream>

int main( )
{
   using namespace std;
   string str1 ("Hello world");
   cout << "The original string str1 is: " << str1 << endl;

   basic_string <char>::size_type sizeStr1, sizerStr1;
   sizeStr1 = str1.size ( );
   basic_string <char>::size_type capStr1, caprStr1;
   capStr1 = str1.capacity ( );

   // Compare size & capacity of the original string
   cout << "The current size of original string str1 is: "
        << sizeStr1 << "." << endl;
   cout << "The capacity of original string str1 is: "
        << capStr1 << "." << endl << endl;

   // Compare size & capacity of the string
   // with added capacity
   str1.reserve ( 40 );
   sizerStr1 = str1.size ( );
   caprStr1 = str1.capacity ( );

   cout << "The string str1with augmented capacity is: "
        << str1 << endl;
   cout << "The current size of string str1 is: "
        << sizerStr1 << "." << endl;
   cout << "The new capacity of string str1 is: "
        << caprStr1 << "." << endl << endl;

   // Compare size & capacity of the string
   // with downsized capacity
   str1.reserve ( );
   basic_string <char>::size_type sizedStr1;
   basic_string <char>::size_type capdStr1;
   sizedStr1 = str1.size ( );
   capdStr1 = str1.capacity ( );

   cout << "The string str1 with downsized capacity is: "
        << str1 << endl;
   cout << "The current size of string str1 is: "
        << sizedStr1 << "." << endl;
   cout << "The reduced capacity of string str1 is: "
        << capdStr1 << "." << endl << endl;
}

The original string str1 is: Hello world
The current size of original string str1 is: 11.
The capacity of original string str1 is: 15.

The string str1with augmented capacity is: Hello world
The current size of string str1 is: 11.
The new capacity of string str1 is: 47.

The string str1 with downsized capacity is: Hello world
The current size of string str1 is: 11.
The reduced capacity of string str1 is: 47.

`basic_string::resize`

Specifies a new size for a string, appending or erasing elements as required.

void resize(
    size_type count,);

void resize(
    size_type count,
    value_type char_value);

Parameters

count
The new size of the string.

char_value
The value that appended characters are initialized with, if more elements are required.

Remarks

If the resulting size exceeds the maximum number of characters, the form throws length_error.

Example

// basic_string_resize.cpp
// compile with: /EHsc
#include <string>
#include <iostream>

int main( )
{
   using namespace std;
   string  str1 ( "Hello world" );
   cout << "The original string str1 is: " << str1 << endl;

   basic_string <char>::size_type sizeStr1;
   sizeStr1 = str1.size ( );
   basic_string <char>::size_type capStr1;
   capStr1 = str1.capacity ( );

   // Compare size & capacity of the original string
   cout << "The current size of original string str1 is: "
        << sizeStr1 << "." << endl;
   cout << "The capacity of original string str1 is: "
        << capStr1 << "." << endl << endl;

   // Use resize to increase size by 2 elements: exclamations
   str1.resize ( str1.size ( ) + 2 , '!' );
   cout << "The resized string str1 is: " << str1 << endl;

   sizeStr1 = str1.size ( );
   capStr1 = str1.capacity ( );

   // Compare size & capacity of a string after resizing
   cout << "The current size of resized string str1 is: "
        << sizeStr1 << "." << endl;
   cout << "The capacity of resized string str1 is: "
        << capStr1 << "." << endl << endl;

   // Use resize to increase size by 20 elements:
   str1.resize ( str1.size ( ) + 20 );
   cout << "The resized string str1 is: " << str1 << endl;

   sizeStr1 = str1.size ( );
   capStr1 = str1.capacity ( );

   // Compare size & capacity of a string after resizing
   // note capacity increases automatically as required
   cout << "The current size of modified string str1 is: "
        << sizeStr1 << "." << endl;
   cout << "The capacity of modified string str1 is: "
        << capStr1 << "." << endl << endl;

   // Use resize to downsize by 28 elements:
   str1.resize ( str1.size ( ) - 28 );
   cout << "The downsized string str1 is: " << str1 << endl;

   sizeStr1 = str1.size (  );
   capStr1 = str1.capacity (  );

   // Compare size & capacity of a string after downsizing
   cout << "The current size of downsized string str1 is: "
        << sizeStr1 << "." << endl;
   cout << "The capacity of downsized string str1 is: "
        << capStr1 << "." << endl;
}

The original string str1 is: Hello world
The current size of original string str1 is: 11.
The capacity of original string str1 is: 15.

The resized string str1 is: Hello world!!
The current size of resized string str1 is: 13.
The capacity of resized string str1 is: 15.

The resized string str1 is: Hello world!!
The current size of modified string str1 is: 33.
The capacity of modified string str1 is: 47.

The downsized string str1 is: Hello
The current size of downsized string str1 is: 5.
The capacity of downsized string str1 is: 47.

`basic_string::reverse_iterator`

A type that provides a reference to an element stored in a string.

typedef std::reverse_iterator<iterator> reverse_iterator;

Remarks

A type reverse_iterator can be used to modify the value of a character and is used to iterate through a string in reverse.

Example

See the example for rbegin for an example of how to declare and use reverse_iterator.

`basic_string::rfind`

Searches a string in a backward direction for the first occurrence of a substring that matches a specified sequence of characters.

size_type rfind(
    value_type char_value,
    size_type offset = npos) const;

size_type rfind(
    const value_type* ptr,
    size_type offset = npos) const;

size_type rfind(
    const value_type* ptr,
    size_type offset,
    size_type count) const;

size_type rfind(
    const basic_string<CharType, Traits, Allocator>& str,
    size_type offset = npos) const;

Parameters

char_value
The character value for which the member function is to search.

offset
Index of the position at which the search is to begin.

ptr
The C-string for which the member function is to search.

count
The number of characters, counting forward from the first character, in the C-string for which the member function is to search.

str
The string for which the member function is to search.

Return value

The index of the last occurrence, when searched backwards, of the first character of the substring when successful; otherwise npos.

Example

// basic_string_rfind.cpp
// compile with: /EHsc
#include <string>
#include <iostream>

int main( )
{
   using namespace std;

   // The first member function
   // searches for a single character in a string
   string str1 ( "Hello Everyone" );
   cout << "The original string str1 is: " << str1 << endl;
   basic_string <char>::size_type indexCh1a, indexCh1b;
   static const basic_string <char>::size_type npos = -1;

   indexCh1a = str1.rfind ( "e" , 9 );
   if ( indexCh1a != npos )
      cout << "The index of the 1st 'e' found before the 9th"
           << " position in str1 is: " << indexCh1a << endl;
   else
      cout << "The character 'e' was not found in str1 ." << endl;

   indexCh1b = str1.rfind ( "x" );
   if ( indexCh1b != npos )
      cout << "The index of the 'x' found in str1 is: "
           << indexCh1b << endl << endl;
   else
      cout << "The character 'x' was not found in str1."
           << endl << endl;

   // The second member function searches a string
   // for a substring as specified by a C-string
   string str2 ( "Let me make this perfectly clear." );
   cout << "The original string str2 is: " << str2 << endl;
   basic_string <char>::size_type indexCh2a, indexCh2b;

   const char *cstr2 = "perfect";
   indexCh2a = str2.rfind ( cstr2 , 30 );
   if ( indexCh2a != npos )
      cout << "The index of the 1st element of 'perfect' "
           << "before\n the 30th position in str2 is: "
           << indexCh2a << endl;
   else
      cout << "The substring 'perfect' was not found in str2 ."
           << endl;

   const char *cstr2b = "imperfectly";
   indexCh2b = str2.rfind ( cstr2b , 30 );
   if ( indexCh2b != npos )
      cout << "The index of the 1st element of 'imperfect' "
           << "before\n the 5th position in str3 is: "
           << indexCh2b << endl;
   else
      cout << "The substring 'imperfect' was not found in str2 ."
           << endl << endl;

   // The third member function searches a string
   // for a substring as specified by a C-string
   string str3 ( "It is a nice day. I am happy." );
   cout << "The original string str3 is: " << str3 << endl;
   basic_string <char>::size_type indexCh3a, indexCh3b;

   const char *cstr3a = "nice";
   indexCh3a = str3.rfind ( cstr3a );
   if ( indexCh3a != npos )
      cout << "The index of the 1st element of 'nice' "
           << "in str3 is: " << indexCh3a << endl;
   else
      cout << "The substring 'nice' was not found in str3 ."
           << endl;

   const char *cstr3b = "am";
   indexCh3b = str3.rfind ( cstr3b , indexCh3a + 25 , 2 );
   if ( indexCh3b != npos )
      cout << "The index of the next occurrence of 'am' in "
           << "str3 begins at: " << indexCh3b << endl << endl;
   else
      cout << "There is no next occurrence of 'am' in str3 ."
           << endl << endl;

   // The fourth member function searches a string
   // for a substring as specified by a string
   string str4 ( "This perfectly unclear." );
   cout << "The original string str4 is: " << str4 << endl;
   basic_string <char>::size_type indexCh4a, indexCh4b;

   string str4a ( "clear" );
   indexCh4a = str4.rfind ( str4a , 15 );
   if (indexCh4a != npos )
      cout << "The index of the 1st element of 'clear' "
           << "before\n the 15th position in str4 is: "
           << indexCh4a << endl;
   else
      cout << "The substring 'clear' was not found in str4 "
           << "before the 15th position." << endl;

   string str4b ( "clear" );
   indexCh4b = str4.rfind ( str4b );
   if ( indexCh4b != npos )
      cout << "The index of the 1st element of 'clear' "
           << "in str4 is: "
           << indexCh4b << endl;
   else
      cout << "The substring 'clear' was not found in str4 ."
           << endl << endl;
}

The original string str1 is: Hello Everyone
The index of the 1st 'e' found before the 9th position in str1 is: 8
The character 'x' was not found in str1.

The original string str2 is: Let me make this perfectly clear.
The index of the 1st element of 'perfect' before
the 30th position in str2 is: 17
The substring 'imperfect' was not found in str2 .

The original string str3 is: It is a nice day. I am happy.
The index of the 1st element of 'nice' in str3 is: 8
The index of the next occurrence of 'am' in str3 begins at: 20

The original string str4 is: This perfectly unclear.
The substring 'clear' was not found in str4 before the 15th position.
The index of the 1st element of 'clear' in str4 is: 17

`basic_string::shrink_to_fit`

Discards the excess capacity of the string.

void shrink_to_fit();

Remarks

This member function eliminates any unneeded storage in the container.

`basic_string::size`

Returns the current number of elements in a string.

size_type size() const;

Return value

The length of the string.

Example

// basic_string_size.cpp
// compile with: /EHsc
#include <string>
#include <iostream>

int main( )
{
   using namespace std;
   string str1 ("Hello world");
   cout << "The original string str1 is: " << str1 << endl;

   // The size and length member functions differ in name only
   basic_string <char>::size_type sizeStr1, lenStr1;
   sizeStr1 = str1.size (  );
   lenStr1 = str1.length (  );

   basic_string <char>::size_type capStr1, max_sizeStr1;
   capStr1 = str1.capacity (  );
   max_sizeStr1 = str1.max_size (  );

   // Compare size, length, capacity & max_size of a string
   cout << "The current size of original string str1 is: "
        << sizeStr1 << "." << endl;
   cout << "The current length of original string str1 is: "
        << lenStr1 << "." << endl;
   cout << "The capacity of original string str1 is: "
        << capStr1 << "." << endl;
   cout << "The max_size of original string str1 is: "
        << max_sizeStr1 << "." << endl << endl;

   str1.erase ( 6, 5 );
   cout << "The modified string str1 is: " << str1 << endl;

   sizeStr1 = str1.size ( );
   lenStr1 = str1.length ( );
   capStr1 = str1.capacity ( );
   max_sizeStr1 = str1.max_size ( );

   // Compare size, length, capacity & max_size of a string
   // after erasing part of the original string
   cout << "The current size of modified string str1 is: "
        << sizeStr1 << "." << endl;
   cout << "The current length of modified string str1 is: "
        << lenStr1 << "." << endl;
   cout << "The capacity of modified string str1 is: "
        << capStr1 << "." << endl;
   cout << "The max_size of modified string str1 is: "
        << max_sizeStr1 << "." << endl;
}

`basic_string::size_type`

An unsigned integer type that can represent the number of elements and indices in a string.

typedef typename allocator_type::size_type size_type;

Remarks

it's equivalent to allocator_type::size_type.

For type string, it's equivalent to size_t.

Example

// basic_string_size_type.cpp
// compile with: /EHsc
#include <string>
#include <iostream>

int main( )
{
   using namespace std;
   string str1 ( "Hello world" );

   basic_string <char>::size_type sizeStr1, capStr1;
   sizeStr1 = str1.size (  );
   capStr1 = str1.capacity (  );

   cout << "The current size of string str1 is: "
        << sizeStr1 << "." << endl;
   cout << "The capacity of string str1 is: " << capStr1
         << "." << endl;
}

The current size of string str1 is: 11.
The capacity of string str1 is: 15.

`basic_string::starts_with`

Check whether the string starts with the specified prefix.

bool starts_with(const CharType c) const noexcept;
bool starts_with(const CharType* const x) const noexcept;
bool starts_with(const basic_string_view sv) const noexcept;

Parameters

c
The single character prefix to look for.

sv
A string view containing the prefix to look for.
You can pass a std::basic_string, which converts to a string view.

x
Null-terminated character string containing the prefix to look for.

Return value

true if the string starts with the specified prefix; false otherwise.

Remarks

starts_with() is new in C++20. To use it, specify the /std:c++20 or later compiler option.

See ends_with to see if a string ends with the specified suffix.

Example

// Requires /std:c++20 or /std:c++latest
#include <string>
#include <iostream>

int main()
{
    std::basic_string<char> str = "abcdefg";

    std::cout << std::boolalpha; // so booleans show as 'true'/'false'
    std::cout << str.starts_with('b') << '\n';
    std::cout << str.starts_with("aBc") << '\n';

    std::basic_string<char> str2 = "abc";
    std::cout << str.starts_with(str2);

    return 0;
}

false
false
true

`basic_string::substr`

Copies a substring of at most some number of characters from a string beginning from a specified position.

basic_string<CharType, Traits, Allocator> substr(
    size_type offset = 0,
    size_type count = npos) const;

Parameters

offset
An index locating the element at the position from which the copy of the string is made, with a default value of 0.

count
The number of characters that are to be copied if they're present.

Return value

A substring object that's a copy of elements of the string operand, beginning at the position specified by the first argument.

Example

// basic_string_substr.cpp
// compile with: /EHsc
#include <string>
#include <iostream>

int main( )
{
   using namespace std;

   string  str1 ("Heterological paradoxes are persistent.");
   cout << "The original string str1 is: \n " << str1
        << endl << endl;

   basic_string <char> str2 = str1.substr ( 6 , 7 );
   cout << "The substring str1 copied is: " << str2
        << endl << endl;

   basic_string <char> str3 = str1.substr (  );
   cout << "The default substring str3 is: \n " << str3
        <<  "\n which is the entire original string." << endl;
}

The original string str1 is:
Heterological paradoxes are persistent.

The substring str1 copied is: logical

The default substring str3 is:
Heterological paradoxes are persistent.
which is the entire original string.

`basic_string::swap`

Exchange the contents of two strings.

void swap(
    basic_string<CharType, Traits, Allocator>& str);

Parameters

str
The source string whose elements are to be exchanged with the ones in the destination string.

Remarks

If the strings being swapped have the same allocator object, the swap member function:

Occurs in constant time.
Throws no exceptions.
Invalidates no references, pointers, or iterators that designate elements in the two strings.

Otherwise, it makes element assignments and constructor calls proportional to the number of elements in the two controlled sequences.

Example

// basic_string_swap.cpp
// compile with: /EHsc
#include <string>
#include <iostream>

int main( )
{
   using namespace std;

   // Declaring an objects of type basic_string<char>
   string s1 ( "Tweedledee" );
   string s2 ( "Tweedledum" );
   cout << "Before swapping string s1 and s2:" << endl;
   cout << " The basic_string s1 = " << s1 << "." << endl;
   cout << " The basic_string s2 = " << s2 << "." << endl;

   s1.swap ( s2 );
   cout << "After swapping string s1 and s2:" << endl;
   cout << " The basic_string s1 = " << s1 << "." << endl;
   cout << " The basic_string s2 = " << s2 << "." << endl;
}

Before swapping string s1 and s2:
The basic_string s1 = Tweedledee.
The basic_string s2 = Tweedledum.
After swapping string s1 and s2:
The basic_string s1 = Tweedledum.
The basic_string s2 = Tweedledee.

`basic_string::traits_type`

A type for the character traits of the elements stored in a string.

typedef Traits traits_type;

Remarks

The type is a synonym for the second template parameter Traits.

For type string, it's equivalent to char_traits<char>.

Example

See the example for copy for an example of how to declare and use traits_type.

`basic_string::value_type`

A type that represents the type of characters stored in a string.

typedef typename allocator_type::value_type value_type;

Remarks

It's equivalent to traits_type::char_type and is equivalent to char for objects of type string.

Example

// basic_string_value_type.cpp
// compile with: /EHsc
#include <string>
#include <iostream>

int main( )
{
   using namespace std;

   basic_string<char>::value_type ch1 = 'G';

   char ch2 = 'H';

   cout << "The character ch1 is: " << ch1 << "." << endl;
   cout << "The character ch2 is: " << ch2 << "." << endl;
}

The character ch1 is: G.
The character ch2 is: H.

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basic_string Class

Syntax

Parameters

Constructors

Typedefs

Member functions

Operators

Literals

Remarks

Requirements

basic_string::allocator_type

Remarks

Example

basic_string::append

Parameters

Return value

Remarks

Example

basic_string::assign

Parameters

Return value

Remarks

Example

basic_string::at

Parameters

Return value

Remarks

Example

basic_string::back

Return value

Remarks

basic_string::basic_string

Parameters

Return value

Remarks

Example

basic_string::begin

Return value

Example

basic_string::c_str

Return value

Remarks

Example

basic_string::capacity

Return value

Remarks

Example

basic_string::cbegin

Return value

Remarks

basic_string::cend

Return value

Remarks

basic_string::clear

Remarks

Example

basic_string::compare

Parameters

Return value

Remarks

Example

basic_string::const_iterator

Remarks

Example

basic_string::const_pointer

Remarks

Example

basic_string::const_reference

Remarks

Example

basic_string::const_reverse_iterator

Remarks

Example

basic_string::copy

Parameters

Return value

Remarks

Example

basic_string::crbegin

`basic_string` Class

`basic_string::allocator_type`

`basic_string::append`

`basic_string::assign`

`basic_string::at`

`basic_string::back`

`basic_string::basic_string`

`basic_string::begin`

`basic_string::c_str`

`basic_string::capacity`

`basic_string::cbegin`

`basic_string::cend`

`basic_string::clear`

`basic_string::compare`

`basic_string::const_iterator`

`basic_string::const_pointer`

`basic_string::const_reference`

`basic_string::const_reverse_iterator`

`basic_string::copy`

`basic_string::crbegin`

`basic_string::crend`

`basic_string::_Copy_s`

`basic_string::data`

`basic_string::difference_type`

`basic_string::empty`

`basic_string::end`

`basic_string::ends_with`

`basic_string::erase`

`basic_string::find`

`basic_string::find_first_not_of`

`basic_string::find_first_of`

`basic_string::find_last_not_of`

`basic_string::find_last_of`

`basic_string::front`

`basic_string::get_allocator`

`basic_string::insert`

`basic_string::iterator`

`basic_string::length`