how to make a if a char equals something

Sorry for the confusing title but here's what I want to do:

Code:

---

#include <iostream>

using namespace std;
int main()

{
    char search[50];
    cout<<"Welcome to Google! What are you looking for?\n\n";
    cin>>search;
    if (search == test ) {
              cout<<"Good";
              cin.ignore();
    }
    if (search != test) {
    cin.ignore();
    cout<<"\nSorry! " <<search <<" wasn't found!\n\n";
    system("pause");
}
}

---

Why doesn't this work?

How doesn't it work?

when I compile it in DEV-C++ it gives me an error

What is the error?

it says that "`test' undeclared (first use this function)" on the tenth line. and then " (Each undeclared identifier is reported only once for each function it appears in.) "

Quote:

---

`test' undeclared

---

What do you think that means?

I just don't get it anymore :( can't you just show me what do to?

What part of "`test' undeclared" do you not get?

Did you declare a variable called test?

Hint: you should.

Uh, nevermind, I have another idea

Actually, I think cyberfish is both right and wrong - you probably do not want to declare a variable called test, you probably want to have a constant string that you compare with your input. Use "" to surround constant strings, just like when you do output.

And by the way, when you do "if (x == y) ..." followed by "if (x != y)", you should really replace the second if with "else" - since the first statement and the second are always true in the opposite case [1].

[1] Of course, if you are actually modifying x or y inside the first if, then that's not strictly true. Do not worry about this bit right now, I'm just preventing someone else from side-tracking the subject.

--
Mats

Ah good call. I actually didn't read the code. Just trying to get him to do some troubleshooting himself, since he showed no effort at all.

right under main (){
put:
char test;

Quote:

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Originally Posted by walkonwater

right under main (){
put:
char test;

---

That'll get rid of the error, but not the problem.

C Strings - C Tutorial - Cprogramming.com Here you can find information about strings, how to compare one string to another and so on.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Shakti

C Strings - C Tutorial - Cprogramming.com Here you can find information about strings, how to compare one string to another and so on.

---

Oh no no no no.
This is C++, so C-style strings we should avoid. Here is a better tutorial, methinks:
Cprogramming.com - C++ Standard Library - String Class

It may be C++ but it never hurts to know about C-Style strings and his question was on C-style strings.

I agree C++ strings are what should be used but that doesnt migate the fact that C-style strings are still good to learn and most books teach them before C++ strings.

I sincerely disagree. A C++ dev should know C++ strings and largely ignore C-style strings. Most are better of not knowing them.

Well i guess we will just have to settle with agreeing that we disagree :D

And btw, I don't like the approach of learning C-stuff before C++ stuff. I believe all those thousands of books out there use the wrong approach.
The one book I do like is Accelerated C++. It focuses on writing C++ applications without forcing the user to learn C stuff before. It only teaches them (and a narrow subset) in a practical manner to implement higher C++ functionality and encapsulation.
Gets you started on C++ right away.