21 Strings library [strings]

21.4 String view classes [string.view]

21.4.1 General [string.view.general]

1
#
The class template basic_­string_­view describes an object that can refer to a constant contiguous sequence of char-like ([strings.general]) objects with the first element of the sequence at position zero.
In the rest of [string.view], the type of the char-like objects held in a basic_­string_­view object is designated by charT.
2
#
[Note 1:
The library provides implicit conversions from const charT* and std​::​basic_­string<charT, ...> to std​::​basic_­string_­view<charT, ...> so that user code can accept just std​::​basic_­string_­view<charT> as a non-templated parameter wherever a sequence of characters is expected.
User-defined types can define their own implicit conversions to std​::​basic_­string_­view in order to interoperate with these functions.
— end note]

21.4.2 Header <string_­view> synopsis [string.view.synop]

#include <compare> // see [compare.syn] namespace std { // [string.view.template], class template basic_­string_­view template<class charT, class traits = char_traits<charT>> class basic_string_view; template<class charT, class traits> inline constexpr bool ranges::enable_view<basic_string_view<charT, traits>> = true; template<class charT, class traits> inline constexpr bool ranges::enable_borrowed_range<basic_string_view<charT, traits>> = true; // [string.view.comparison], non-member comparison functions template<class charT, class traits> constexpr bool operator==(basic_string_view<charT, traits> x, basic_string_view<charT, traits> y) noexcept; template<class charT, class traits> constexpr see below operator<=>(basic_string_view<charT, traits> x, basic_string_view<charT, traits> y) noexcept; // see [string.view.comparison], sufficient additional overloads of comparison functions // [string.view.io], inserters and extractors template<class charT, class traits> basic_ostream<charT, traits>& operator<<(basic_ostream<charT, traits>& os, basic_string_view<charT, traits> str); // basic_­string_­view typedef names using string_view = basic_string_view<char>; using u8string_view = basic_string_view<char8_t>; using u16string_view = basic_string_view<char16_t>; using u32string_view = basic_string_view<char32_t>; using wstring_view = basic_string_view<wchar_t>; // [string.view.hash], hash support template<class T> struct hash; template<> struct hash<string_view>; template<> struct hash<u8string_view>; template<> struct hash<u16string_view>; template<> struct hash<u32string_view>; template<> struct hash<wstring_view>; inline namespace literals { inline namespace string_view_literals { // [string.view.literals], suffix for basic_­string_­view literals constexpr string_view operator""sv(const char* str, size_t len) noexcept; constexpr u8string_view operator""sv(const char8_t* str, size_t len) noexcept; constexpr u16string_view operator""sv(const char16_t* str, size_t len) noexcept; constexpr u32string_view operator""sv(const char32_t* str, size_t len) noexcept; constexpr wstring_view operator""sv(const wchar_t* str, size_t len) noexcept; } } }
1
#
The function templates defined in [utility.swap] and [iterator.range] are available when <string_­view> is included.

21.4.3 Class template basic_­string_­view [string.view.template]

21.4.3.1 General [string.view.template.general]

namespace std { template<class charT, class traits = char_traits<charT>> class basic_string_view { public: // types using traits_type = traits; using value_type = charT; using pointer = value_type*; using const_pointer = const value_type*; using reference = value_type&; using const_reference = const value_type&; using const_iterator = implementation-defined; // see [string.view.iterators] using iterator = const_iterator;229 using const_reverse_iterator = reverse_iterator<const_iterator>; using reverse_iterator = const_reverse_iterator; using size_type = size_t; using difference_type = ptrdiff_t; static constexpr size_type npos = size_type(-1); // [string.view.cons], construction and assignment constexpr basic_string_view() noexcept; constexpr basic_string_view(const basic_string_view&) noexcept = default; constexpr basic_string_view& operator=(const basic_string_view&) noexcept = default; constexpr basic_string_view(const charT* str); constexpr basic_string_view(const charT* str, size_type len); template<class It, class End> constexpr basic_string_view(It begin, End end); // [string.view.iterators], iterator support constexpr const_iterator begin() const noexcept; constexpr const_iterator end() const noexcept; constexpr const_iterator cbegin() const noexcept; constexpr const_iterator cend() const noexcept; constexpr const_reverse_iterator rbegin() const noexcept; constexpr const_reverse_iterator rend() const noexcept; constexpr const_reverse_iterator crbegin() const noexcept; constexpr const_reverse_iterator crend() const noexcept; // [string.view.capacity], capacity constexpr size_type size() const noexcept; constexpr size_type length() const noexcept; constexpr size_type max_size() const noexcept; [[nodiscard]] constexpr bool empty() const noexcept; // [string.view.access], element access constexpr const_reference operator[](size_type pos) const; constexpr const_reference at(size_type pos) const; constexpr const_reference front() const; constexpr const_reference back() const; constexpr const_pointer data() const noexcept; // [string.view.modifiers], modifiers constexpr void remove_prefix(size_type n); constexpr void remove_suffix(size_type n); constexpr void swap(basic_string_view& s) noexcept; // [string.view.ops], string operations constexpr size_type copy(charT* s, size_type n, size_type pos = 0) const; constexpr basic_string_view substr(size_type pos = 0, size_type n = npos) const; constexpr int compare(basic_string_view s) const noexcept; constexpr int compare(size_type pos1, size_type n1, basic_string_view s) const; constexpr int compare(size_type pos1, size_type n1, basic_string_view s, size_type pos2, size_type n2) const; constexpr int compare(const charT* s) const; constexpr int compare(size_type pos1, size_type n1, const charT* s) const; constexpr int compare(size_type pos1, size_type n1, const charT* s, size_type n2) const; constexpr bool starts_with(basic_string_view x) const noexcept; constexpr bool starts_with(charT x) const noexcept; constexpr bool starts_with(const charT* x) const; constexpr bool ends_with(basic_string_view x) const noexcept; constexpr bool ends_with(charT x) const noexcept; constexpr bool ends_with(const charT* x) const; // [string.view.find], searching constexpr size_type find(basic_string_view s, size_type pos = 0) const noexcept; constexpr size_type find(charT c, size_type pos = 0) const noexcept; constexpr size_type find(const charT* s, size_type pos, size_type n) const; constexpr size_type find(const charT* s, size_type pos = 0) const; constexpr size_type rfind(basic_string_view s, size_type pos = npos) const noexcept; constexpr size_type rfind(charT c, size_type pos = npos) const noexcept; constexpr size_type rfind(const charT* s, size_type pos, size_type n) const; constexpr size_type rfind(const charT* s, size_type pos = npos) const; constexpr size_type find_first_of(basic_string_view s, size_type pos = 0) const noexcept; constexpr size_type find_first_of(charT c, size_type pos = 0) const noexcept; constexpr size_type find_first_of(const charT* s, size_type pos, size_type n) const; constexpr size_type find_first_of(const charT* s, size_type pos = 0) const; constexpr size_type find_last_of(basic_string_view s, size_type pos = npos) const noexcept; constexpr size_type find_last_of(charT c, size_type pos = npos) const noexcept; constexpr size_type find_last_of(const charT* s, size_type pos, size_type n) const; constexpr size_type find_last_of(const charT* s, size_type pos = npos) const; constexpr size_type find_first_not_of(basic_string_view s, size_type pos = 0) const noexcept; constexpr size_type find_first_not_of(charT c, size_type pos = 0) const noexcept; constexpr size_type find_first_not_of(const charT* s, size_type pos, size_type n) const; constexpr size_type find_first_not_of(const charT* s, size_type pos = 0) const; constexpr size_type find_last_not_of(basic_string_view s, size_type pos = npos) const noexcept; constexpr size_type find_last_not_of(charT c, size_type pos = npos) const noexcept; constexpr size_type find_last_not_of(const charT* s, size_type pos, size_type n) const; constexpr size_type find_last_not_of(const charT* s, size_type pos = npos) const; private: const_pointer data_; // exposition only size_type size_; // exposition only }; // [string.view.deduct], deduction guide template<class It, class End> basic_string_view(It, End) -> basic_string_view<iter_value_t<It>>; }
1
#
In every specialization basic_­string_­view<charT, traits>, the type traits shall meet the character traits requirements ([char.traits]).
[Note 1:
The program is ill-formed if traits​::​char_­type is not the same type as charT.
— end note]
2
#
For a basic_­string_­view str, any operation that invalidates a pointer in the range [str.data(), ​str.data() + str.size()) invalidates pointers, iterators, and references returned from str's member functions.
3
#
The complexity of basic_­string_­view member functions is unless otherwise specified.
229)
Because basic_­string_­view refers to a constant sequence, iterator and const_­iterator are the same type.
 ⮥

21.4.3.2 Construction and assignment [string.view.cons]

🔗
constexpr basic_string_view() noexcept;
1
#
Postconditions: size_­ == 0 and data_­ == nullptr.
🔗
constexpr basic_string_view(const charT* str);
2
#
Preconditions: [str, str + traits​::​length(str)) is a valid range.
3
#
Effects: Constructs a basic_­string_­view, initializing data_­ with str and initializing size_­ with traits​::​length(str).
4
#
Complexity: .
🔗
constexpr basic_string_view(const charT* str, size_type len);
5
#
Preconditions: [str, str + len) is a valid range.
6
#
Effects: Constructs a basic_­string_­view, initializing data_­ with str and initializing size_­ with len.
🔗
template<class It, class End> constexpr basic_string_view(It begin, End end);
7
#
Constraints:
8
#
Preconditions:
9
#
Effects: Initializes data_­ with to_­address(begin) and initializes size_­ with end - begin.

21.4.3.3 Iterator support [string.view.iterators]

🔗
using const_iterator = implementation-defined;
1
#
A type that meets the requirements of a constant Cpp17RandomAccessIterator ([random.access.iterators]), models contiguous_­iterator ([iterator.concept.contiguous]), and meets the constexpr iterator requirements ([iterator.requirements.general]), whose value_­type is the template parameter charT.
2
#
All requirements on container iterators ([container.requirements]) apply to basic_­string_­view​::​const_­iterator as well.
🔗
constexpr const_iterator begin() const noexcept; constexpr const_iterator cbegin() const noexcept;
3
#
Returns: An iterator such that
  • (3.1)
    if !empty(), addressof(*begin()) == data_­,
  • (3.2)
    otherwise, an unspecified value such that [begin(), end()) is a valid range.
🔗
constexpr const_iterator end() const noexcept; constexpr const_iterator cend() const noexcept;
4
#
Returns: begin() + size().
🔗
constexpr const_reverse_iterator rbegin() const noexcept; constexpr const_reverse_iterator crbegin() const noexcept;
5
#
Returns: const_­reverse_­iterator(end()).
🔗
constexpr const_reverse_iterator rend() const noexcept; constexpr const_reverse_iterator crend() const noexcept;
6
#
Returns: const_­reverse_­iterator(begin()).

21.4.3.4 Capacity [string.view.capacity]

🔗
constexpr size_type size() const noexcept; constexpr size_type length() const noexcept;
1
#
Returns: size_­.
🔗
constexpr size_type max_size() const noexcept;
2
#
Returns: The largest possible number of char-like objects that can be referred to by a basic_­string_­view.
🔗
[[nodiscard]] constexpr bool empty() const noexcept;
3
#
Returns: size_­ == 0.

21.4.3.5 Element access [string.view.access]

🔗
constexpr const_reference operator[](size_type pos) const;
1
#
Preconditions: pos < size().
2
#
Returns: data_­[pos].
3
#
Throws: Nothing.
4
#
[Note 1:
Unlike basic_­string​::​operator[], basic_­string_­view​::​operator[](size()) has undefined behavior instead of returning charT().
— end note]
🔗
constexpr const_reference at(size_type pos) const;
5
#
Returns: data_­[pos].
6
#
Throws: out_­of_­range if pos >= size().
🔗
constexpr const_reference front() const;
7
#
Preconditions: !empty().
8
#
Returns: data_­[0].
9
#
Throws: Nothing.
🔗
constexpr const_reference back() const;
10
#
Preconditions: !empty().
11
#
Returns: data_­[size() - 1].
12
#
Throws: Nothing.
🔗
constexpr const_pointer data() const noexcept;
13
#
Returns: data_­.
14
#
[Note 2:
Unlike basic_­string​::​data() and string-literals, data() can return a pointer to a buffer that is not null-terminated.
Therefore it is typically a mistake to pass data() to a function that takes just a const charT* and expects a null-terminated string.
— end note]

21.4.3.6 Modifiers [string.view.modifiers]

🔗
constexpr void remove_prefix(size_type n);
1
#
Preconditions: n <= size().
2
#
Effects: Equivalent to: data_­ += n; size_­ -= n;
🔗
constexpr void remove_suffix(size_type n);
3
#
Preconditions: n <= size().
4
#
Effects: Equivalent to: size_­ -= n;
🔗
constexpr void swap(basic_string_view& s) noexcept;
5
#
Effects: Exchanges the values of *this and s.

21.4.3.7 String operations [string.view.ops]

🔗
constexpr size_type copy(charT* s, size_type n, size_type pos = 0) const;
1
#
Let rlen be the smaller of n and size() - pos.
2
#
Preconditions: [s, s + rlen) is a valid range.
3
#
Effects: Equivalent to traits​::​copy(s, data() + pos, rlen).
4
#
Returns: rlen.
5
#
Throws: out_­of_­range if pos > size().
6
#
Complexity: .
🔗
constexpr basic_string_view substr(size_type pos = 0, size_type n = npos) const;
7
#
Let rlen be the smaller of n and size() - pos.
8
#
Effects: Determines rlen, the effective length of the string to reference.
9
#
Returns: basic_­string_­view(data() + pos, rlen).
10
#
Throws: out_­of_­range if pos > size().
🔗
constexpr int compare(basic_string_view str) const noexcept;
11
#
Let rlen be the smaller of size() and str.size().
12
#
Effects: Determines rlen, the effective length of the strings to compare.
The function then compares the two strings by calling traits​::​compare(data(), str.data(), rlen).
13
#
Returns: The nonzero result if the result of the comparison is nonzero.
Otherwise, returns a value as indicated in Table 70.
Table 70: compare() results [tab:string.view.compare]
Condition
Return Value
size() < str.size()
< 0
size() == str.size()
 0
size() > str.size()
> 0
14
#
Complexity: .
🔗
constexpr int compare(size_type pos1, size_type n1, basic_string_view str) const;
15
#
Effects: Equivalent to: return substr(pos1, n1).compare(str);
🔗
constexpr int compare(size_type pos1, size_type n1, basic_string_view str, size_type pos2, size_type n2) const;
16
#
Effects: Equivalent to: return substr(pos1, n1).compare(str.substr(pos2, n2));
🔗
constexpr int compare(const charT* s) const;
17
#
Effects: Equivalent to: return compare(basic_­string_­view(s));
🔗
constexpr int compare(size_type pos1, size_type n1, const charT* s) const;
18
#
Effects: Equivalent to: return substr(pos1, n1).compare(basic_­string_­view(s));
🔗
constexpr int compare(size_type pos1, size_type n1, const charT* s, size_type n2) const;
19
#
Effects: Equivalent to: return substr(pos1, n1).compare(basic_­string_­view(s, n2));
🔗
constexpr bool starts_with(basic_string_view x) const noexcept;
20
#
Effects: Equivalent to: return substr(0, x.size()) == x;
🔗
constexpr bool starts_with(charT x) const noexcept;
21
#
Effects: Equivalent to: return !empty() && traits​::​eq(front(), x);
🔗
constexpr bool starts_with(const charT* x) const;
22
#
Effects: Equivalent to: return starts_­with(basic_­string_­view(x));
🔗
constexpr bool ends_with(basic_string_view x) const noexcept;
23
#
Effects: Equivalent to: return size() >= x.size() && compare(size() - x.size(), npos, x) == 0;
🔗
constexpr bool ends_with(charT x) const noexcept;
24
#
Effects: Equivalent to: return !empty() && traits​::​eq(back(), x);
🔗
constexpr bool ends_with(const charT* x) const;
25
#
Effects: Equivalent to: return ends_­with(basic_­string_­view(x));

21.4.3.8 Searching [string.view.find]

1
#
Member functions in this subclause have complexity at worst, although implementations should do better.
2
#
Let F be one of find, rfind, find_­first_­of, find_­last_­of, find_­first_­not_­of, and find_­last_­not_­of.
  • (2.1)
    Each member function of the form constexpr return-type F(const charT* s, size_type pos) const; has effects equivalent to: return F(basic_­string_­view(s), pos);
  • (2.2)
    Each member function of the form constexpr return-type F(const charT* s, size_type pos, size_type n) const; has effects equivalent to: return F(basic_­string_­view(s, n), pos);
  • (2.3)
    Each member function of the form constexpr return-type F(charT c, size_type pos) const noexcept; has effects equivalent to: return F(basic_­string_­view(addressof(c), 1), pos);
🔗
constexpr size_type find(basic_string_view str, size_type pos = 0) const noexcept;
3
#
Let xpos be the lowest position, if possible, such that the following conditions hold:
  • (3.1)
    pos <= xpos
  • (3.2)
    xpos + str.size() <= size()
  • (3.3)
    traits​::​eq(at(xpos + I), str.at(I)) for all elements I of the string referenced by str.
4
#
Effects: Determines xpos.
5
#
Returns: xpos if the function can determine such a value for xpos.
Otherwise, returns npos.
🔗
constexpr size_type rfind(basic_string_view str, size_type pos = npos) const noexcept;
6
#
Let xpos be the highest position, if possible, such that the following conditions hold:
  • (6.1)
    xpos <= pos
  • (6.2)
    xpos + str.size() <= size()
  • (6.3)
    traits​::​eq(at(xpos + I), str.at(I)) for all elements I of the string referenced by str.
7
#
Effects: Determines xpos.
8
#
Returns: xpos if the function can determine such a value for xpos.
Otherwise, returns npos.
🔗
constexpr size_type find_first_of(basic_string_view str, size_type pos = 0) const noexcept;
9
#
Let xpos be the lowest position, if possible, such that the following conditions hold:
  • (9.1)
    pos <= xpos
  • (9.2)
    xpos < size()
  • (9.3)
    traits​::​eq(at(xpos), str.at(I)) for some element I of the string referenced by str.
10
#
Effects: Determines xpos.
11
#
Returns: xpos if the function can determine such a value for xpos.
Otherwise, returns npos.
🔗
constexpr size_type find_last_of(basic_string_view str, size_type pos = npos) const noexcept;
12
#
Let xpos be the highest position, if possible, such that the following conditions hold:
  • (12.1)
    xpos <= pos
  • (12.2)
    xpos < size()
  • (12.3)
    traits​::​eq(at(xpos), str.at(I)) for some element I of the string referenced by str.
13
#
Effects: Determines xpos.
14
#
Returns: xpos if the function can determine such a value for xpos.
Otherwise, returns npos.
🔗
constexpr size_type find_first_not_of(basic_string_view str, size_type pos = 0) const noexcept;
15
#
Let xpos be the lowest position, if possible, such that the following conditions hold:
  • (15.1)
    pos <= xpos
  • (15.2)
    xpos < size()
  • (15.3)
    traits​::​eq(at(xpos), str.at(I)) for no element I of the string referenced by str.
16
#
Effects: Determines xpos.
17
#
Returns: xpos if the function can determine such a value for xpos.
Otherwise, returns npos.
🔗
constexpr size_type find_last_not_of(basic_string_view str, size_type pos = npos) const noexcept;
18
#
Let xpos be the highest position, if possible, such that the following conditions hold:
  • (18.1)
    xpos <= pos
  • (18.2)
    xpos < size()
  • (18.3)
    traits​::​eq(at(xpos), str.at(I)) for no element I of the string referenced by str.
19
#
Effects: Determines xpos.
20
#
Returns: xpos if the function can determine such a value for xpos.
Otherwise, returns npos.

21.4.4 Deduction guide [string.view.deduct]

🔗
template<class It, class End> basic_string_view(It, End) -> basic_string_view<iter_value_t<It>>;
1
#
Constraints:

21.4.5 Non-member comparison functions [string.view.comparison]

1
#
Let S be basic_­string_­view<charT, traits>, and sv be an instance of S.
Implementations shall provide sufficient additional overloads marked constexpr and noexcept so that an object t with an implicit conversion to S can be compared according to Table 71.
Table 71: Additional basic_­string_­view comparison overloads [tab:string.view.comparison.overloads]
Expression
Equivalent to
t == sv
S(t) == sv
sv == t
sv == S(t)
t != sv
S(t) != sv
sv != t
sv != S(t)
t < sv
S(t) < sv
sv < t
sv < S(t)
t > sv
S(t) > sv
sv > t
sv > S(t)
t <= sv
S(t) <= sv
sv <= t
sv <= S(t)
t >= sv
S(t) >= sv
sv >= t
sv >= S(t)
t <=> sv
S(t) <=> sv
sv <=> t
sv <=> S(t)
[Example 1:
A sample conforming implementation for operator== would be: template<class charT, class traits> constexpr bool operator==(basic_string_view<charT, traits> lhs, basic_string_view<charT, traits> rhs) noexcept { return lhs.compare(rhs) == 0; } template<class charT, class traits> constexpr bool operator==(basic_string_view<charT, traits> lhs, type_identity_t<basic_string_view<charT, traits>> rhs) noexcept { return lhs.compare(rhs) == 0; }
— end example]
🔗
template<class charT, class traits> constexpr bool operator==(basic_string_view<charT, traits> lhs, basic_string_view<charT, traits> rhs) noexcept;
2
#
Returns: lhs.compare(rhs) == 0.
🔗
template<class charT, class traits> constexpr see below operator<=>(basic_string_view<charT, traits> lhs, basic_string_view<charT, traits> rhs) noexcept;
3
#
Let R denote the type traits​::​comparison_­category if it exists, otherwise R is weak_­ordering.
4
#
Returns: static_­cast<R>(lhs.compare(rhs) <=> 0).

21.4.6 Inserters and extractors [string.view.io]

🔗
template<class charT, class traits> basic_ostream<charT, traits>& operator<<(basic_ostream<charT, traits>& os, basic_string_view<charT, traits> str);
1
#
Effects: Behaves as a formatted output function of os.
Forms a character sequence seq, initially consisting of the elements defined by the range [str.begin(), str.end()).
Determines padding for seq as described in [ostream.formatted.reqmts].
Then inserts seq as if by calling os.rdbuf()->sputn(​seq, n), where n is the larger of os.width() and str.size(); then calls os.​width(0).
2
#
Returns: os

21.4.7 Hash support [string.view.hash]

🔗
template<> struct hash<string_view>; template<> struct hash<u8string_view>; template<> struct hash<u16string_view>; template<> struct hash<u32string_view>; template<> struct hash<wstring_view>;
1
#
The specialization is enabled ([unord.hash]).
[Note 1:
The hash value of a string view object is equal to the hash value of the corresponding string object ([basic.string.hash]).
— end note]

21.4.8 Suffix for basic_­string_­view literals [string.view.literals]

🔗
constexpr string_view operator""sv(const char* str, size_t len) noexcept;
1
#
Returns: string_­view{str, len}.
🔗
constexpr u8string_view operator""sv(const char8_t* str, size_t len) noexcept;
2
#
Returns: u8string_­view{str, len}.
🔗
constexpr u16string_view operator""sv(const char16_t* str, size_t len) noexcept;
3
#
Returns: u16string_­view{str, len}.
🔗
constexpr u32string_view operator""sv(const char32_t* str, size_t len) noexcept;
4
#
Returns: u32string_­view{str, len}.
🔗
constexpr wstring_view operator""sv(const wchar_t* str, size_t len) noexcept;
5
#
Returns: wstring_­view{str, len}.