searching help? (find function)

sorry if this has been asked before, but i am confused about a code which is posted on the tutorial page:

Code:

    string input;
    int i = 0;
    int cat_appearances = 0;

    getline(cin, input, '\n');

    for(i = input.find("cat", 0); i != string::npos; i = input.find("cat", i))
    {
        cat_appearances++;
        i++;  // Move past the last discovered instance to avoid finding same
              // string
    }
    cout<<cat_appearances;

why do i have to use loops to use the find function? i tried using if and it still works; it even gives the same output! here's the code which i modified from the tutorial using if:

Code:

#include<iostream>
#include<Windows.h>
#include<string>

using namespace std;

int main()
{
    string input;
    int i = 0;
    int cat_appearances = 0;

    if(input.find("cat", 0) != string::npos) cat_appearances++;

    cin.get();
    return 0;
}

can someone explain it to me? thanks in advance though ! ^^

Use the tutorial code as it is, type in 'catacat' and observe the output
Now add a similar getline(cin, input, '\n'); just before your if (so you can type), and a cout << cat_appearances; just below (so you can see the count). Compile and run it and type in the same 'catacat'

You should be able to hazard a guess at what the tutorial code is doing that your if is not.
Remember 'if' does at most one sequence of actions, for loops can do as many sequences as needed until the condition in the middle (the 'i != string::npos' bit in the tutorial) is false.

Originally Posted by aquatorrent

i tried using if and it still works; it even gives the same output!

Sure, if the word contains zero or one "cat". If it contains more than one, the output will not be the same, and please do not bother trying to claim otherwise because no one will believe that (with regard specifically to those two examples, it is just not possible).

Of course, the second example is probably not what you really used, since "string input" remains uninitialized throughout. Always try and post your actual code, not some approximation of it.

Originally Posted by MK27

Sure, if the word contains zero or one "cat". If it contains more than one, the output will not be the same, and please do not bother trying to claim otherwise because no one will believe that (with regard specifically to those two examples, it is just not possible).

Of course, the second example is probably not what you really used, since "string input" remains uninitialized throughout. Always try and post your actual code, not some approximation of it.

yep, i know. and that's why i'm asking this. i must have done something wrong and thanks to you guys, i know what's wrong. i tested only with one 'cat' word so that's why i confused with this

(and i just messed up with the code right before i posted this. that's why there's no getline and cout function(because i forgot to put it too). sorry :P)

anyway, since the problem is solved, can someone tell me how to lock this thread? thanks ^^

We don't lock threads here. If your question is answered, there is no need for further action on your part. You can just the thread be.