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Array of Strings in C++ – 5 Different Ways to Create

In C++, a string is usually just an array of (or a reference/points to) characters that ends with the NULL character ‘\0‘. A string is a 1-dimensional array of characters and an array of strings is a 2-dimensional array of characters where each row contains some string.

Below are the 5 different ways to create an Array of Strings in C++:

  1. Using Pointers
  2. Using 2-D Array
  3. Using the String Class
  4. Using the Vector Class
  5. Using the Array Class

1. Using Pointers

Pointers are the symbolic representation of an address. In simple words, a pointer is something that stores the address of a variable in it. In this method, an array of string literals is created by an array of pointers in which each pointer points to a particular string.

Example:




// C++ program to demonstrate
// array of strings using
// pointers character array
#include <iostream>
 
// Driver code
int main()
{
  // Initialize array of pointer
  const char* colour[4]
      = { "Blue", "Red", "Orange", "Yellow" };
 
  // Printing Strings stored in 2D array
  for (int i = 0; i < 4; i++)
      std::cout << colour[i] << "\n";
 
  return 0;
}

Output
Blue
Red
Orange
Yellow

Explanation:

2. Using a 2D array

A 2-D array is the simplest form of a multidimensional array in which it stores the data in a tabular form. This method is useful when the length of all strings is known and a particular memory footprint is desired. Space for strings will be allocated in a single block

Example:




// C++ program to demonstrate
// array of strings using
// 2D character array
#include <iostream>
 
// Driver code
int main()
{
  // Initialize 2D array
  char colour[4][10]
      = { "Blue", "Red", "Orange", "Yellow" };
 
  // Printing Strings stored in 2D array
  for (int i = 0; i < 4; i++)
      std::cout << colour[i] << "\n";
 
  return 0;
}

Output
Blue
Red
Orange
Yellow

Explanation: 

3. Using the String class

The STL string or string class may be used to create an array of mutable strings. In this method, the size of the string is not fixed, and the strings can be changed which somehow makes it dynamic in nature nevertheless std::string can be used to create a string array using in-built functions. 

Example:




// C++ program to demonstrate
// array of strings using
// string class
#include <iostream>
#include <string>
 
// Driver code
int main()
{
  // Initialize String Array
  std::string colour[4]
      = { "Blue", "Red", "Orange", "Yellow" };
 
  // Print Strings
  for (int i = 0; i < 4; i++)
      std::cout << colour[i] << "\n";
}

Output
Blue
Red
Orange
Yellow

Explanation:

The array is of fixed size, but needn’t be. Again, the 4 here may be omitted, and the compiler will determine the appropriate size of the array. The strings are also mutable, allowing them to be changed.

4. Using the vector class

A vector is a dynamic array that doubles its size whenever a new character is added that exceeds its limit. The STL container vector can be used to dynamically allocate an array that can vary in size.

This is only usable in C++, as C does not have classes. Note that the initializer-list syntax here requires a compiler that supports the 2011 C++ standard, and though it is quite likely your compiler does, it is something to be aware of.

Example:




// C++ program to demonstrate
// array of strings using
// vector class
#include <iostream>
#include <string>
#include <vector>
 
// Driver code
int main()
{
  // Declaring Vector of String type
  // Values can be added here using
  // initializer-list
  // syntax
  std::vector<std::string> colour{"Blue", "Red",
                                  "Orange"};
 
  // Strings can be added at any time
  // with push_back
  colour.push_back("Yellow");
 
  // Print Strings stored in Vector
  for (int i = 0; i < colour.size(); i++)
      std::cout << colour[i] << "\n";
}

Output
Blue
Red
Orange
Yellow

Explanation:

5. Using the Array Class

An array is a homogeneous mixture of data that is stored continuously in the memory space. The STL container array can be used to allocate a fixed-size array. It may be used very similarly to a vector, but the size is always fixed.

Example:




// C++ program to demonstrate
// array of string using STL array
#include <array>
#include <iostream>
#include <string>
 
// Driver code
int main()
{
  // Initialize array
  std::array<std::string, 4> colour{"Blue", "Red",
                                    "Orange", "Yellow"};
 
  // Printing Strings stored in array
  for (int i = 0; i < 4; i++)
      std::cout << colour[i] << "\n";
 
  return 0;
}

Output
Blue
Red
Orange
Yellow

These are by no means the only ways to make a collection of strings. C++ offers several container classes, each of which has various tradeoffs and features, and all of them exist to fill requirements that you will have in your projects. Explore and have fun!

Conclusion: Out of all the methods, Vector seems to be the best way for creating an array of Strings in C++.

  s.


Article Tags :
C++