string iterator

I'm reading one tutorial about STL iterators. I've noticed that there is iterator support for strings. For example I can do something lke this:

Code:

---

#include <iostream>
#include <string>

using namespace std;

int main()
{
    string s("Kivla");
    string::iterator it;
 
  for (it = s.begin(); it != s.end();++it)
  {
      cout<<*it;
  }
}

---

I wonder what is the benefit of using iterators with strings (there must be some benefit otherwise iterators wouldn't have been defined)?
In which cases they are useful for strings?

- Micko

They are usefull in all the situations where you want to use the string object with the STL.

Code:

---

#include <iostream>
#include <algorithm>
#include <string>
#include <cctype>

using namespace std;

int main()
{
    string s("Kivla");

    cout << "Before toupper: " << s << endl;
    transform(s.begin(),s.end(),s.begin(),toupper);
    cout << "After toupper : " << s << endl;
    sort(s.begin(),s.end());
    cout << "After sort    : " << s << endl;

    return 0;
}

---

Output:

Code:

---

Before toupper: Kivla
After toupper : KIVLA
After sort    : AIKLV

---

This is a contrived multi-example, but it's not a big step to a potential real world use:

Code:

---

#include <deque>
#include <iostream>
#include <string>

using namespace std;

int main()
{
  string s ( "is a test" );
  string t ( "This " );
  deque<char> string_buffer ( s.begin(), s.end() );

  for ( string::reverse_iterator it = t.rbegin(); it != t.rend(); ++it )
    string_buffer.push_front ( *it );

  s = string ( string_buffer.begin(), string_buffer.end() );
  cout<< s <<endl;
}

---

Hmm, interesting, I'll dive more into STL... I almost sure I'll have questions regarding STL very soon. I hope I can count on your help.
Thanks hk_mp5kpdw and thanks Prelude

well if you think of strings as just another container then:
1: You have consistency with the other container
2: Many(most) of the std::algorithm functions use iterators as others have shown by example

Well, I'm pretty new to STL, I was playing with string class and container vector from time to time, but never actually scratch under the surface. Of coures that is going to change very soon...