Thread: const char[] or string?

Hey guys i have a quick question. Im currently using a const char to print out a message that is printed to the screen alot eg.

Code:

const char welcomeMsg[6]"Hello";

should i use the string class instead or is it a matter of preferance?

Because the message is constant, ie, it's not supposed to change, an STL string would be a bit of overkill. When you need to parse, split, or grow a string, use STL.

Ok cool thanks Benny

>Because the message is constant, ie, it's not supposed to change, an STL string would be a bit of overkill.
Even if it's not supposed to change, the member functions and overloaded operators of the string class can be mighty useful. Consider the following method:

Code:

const char welcomeMsg[] = "Hello";

Now, the advantage of strings is diminished because to compare with welcomeMsg (assuming the non-const strings are declared std::string X;) you still must include <cstring> and use strcpy and friends:

Code:

if (strcpy(X.c_str(), welcomeMsg) == 0) {
  // Equal
}

The same goes for every other operation with welcomeMsg that requires a C-style string function. On the other hand, if welcomeMsg were declared as such:

Code:

const std::string welcomeMsg("Hello");

The complex comparison for equality would simply be:

Code:

if (X == welcomeMsg) {
  // Equal
}

And the same advantage is true for any other overloaded operators. Another advantage is that now you can work easily with welcomeMsg if the need arises without resorting to C-style string functions or hand-rolled functions if the C library doesn't support what you want in some fashion. The C++ string class has a respectable number of member functions that are useful even with const strings.

Conclusion? Don't mix C and C++ strings when you can avoid it. This almost always results in not using C-style strings and a considerable improvement in the quality and robustness of the code.

Code:

if (strcpy(X.c_str(), welcomeMsg) == 0) {
  // Equal
}

Don't you mean strcmp()?

>Don't you mean strcmp()?
Yes. My fingers were running on autopilot.

I still think it's overkill for a simple welcome message.

ya i have no need to compare, add to or anything like that im just using it so i don't have to type so much

>I still think it's overkill for a simple welcome message.
The C++ string class was designed to be comparable in size and speed with C-style strings. Also, because of the hidden implementation, library writers have quite a bit of freedom in making std::string superior to C-style strings in the way of performance and space costs. I think your hesitation is unfounded.