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std::string::append vs std::string::push_back() vs Operator += in C++

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To append characters, you can use operator +=, append(), and push_back(). All of them helps to append character but with a little difference in implementation and application.

  • Operator += : appends single-argument values. Time complexity : O(n)
  • append() : lets you specify the appended value by using multiple arguments. Time complexity: O(n)
  • push_back() : lets you to append single character at a time. Time complexity: O(1)

Here are few standards we can have for comparison among these three:

1) Full String: 

  • += : We can append full string using +=.
  • append() : We can also append full string using append().
  • push_back : doesn’t allow appending of full string.

Implementation:

CPP




// CPP code for comparison on the
// basis of appending Full String
#include <iostream>
#include <string>
using namespace std;
 
// Function to demonstrate comparison among
// +=, append(), push_back()
void appendDemo(string str1, string str2)
{
    string str = str1;
 
    // Appending using +=
    str1 += str2;
    cout << "Using += : ";
    cout << str1 << endl;
 
    // Appending using append()
    str.append(str2);
    cout << "Using append() : ";
    cout << str << endl;
}
 
// Driver code
int main()
{
    string str1("Hello World! ");
    string str2("GeeksforGeeks");
 
    cout << "Original String : " << str1 << endl;
    appendDemo(str1, str2);
 
    return 0;
}


Output

Original String : Hello World! 
Using += : Hello World! GeeksforGeeks
Using append() : Hello World! GeeksforGeeks

2) Appending part of String: 

  • += : Doesn’t allow appending part of string.
  • append() : Allows appending part of string.
  • push_back : We can’t append part of string using push_back.

Implementation:

CPP




// CPP code for comparison on the basis of
// Appending part of string
 
#include <iostream>
#include <string>
using namespace std;
 
// Function to demonstrate comparison among
// +=, append(), push_back()
void appendDemo(string str1, string str2)
{
    // Appends 5 characters from 0th index of
    // str2 to str1
    str1.append(str2, 0, 5);
    cout << "Using append() : ";
    cout << str1;
}
 
// Driver code
int main()
{
    string str1("GeeksforGeeks ");
    string str2("Hello World! ");
 
    cout << "Original String : " << str1 << endl;
    appendDemo(str1, str2);
 
    return 0;
}


Output

Original String : GeeksforGeeks 
Using append() : GeeksforGeeks Hello

3) Appending C-string (char*): 

  • += : Allows appending C-string
  • append() : It also allows appending C-string
  • push_back : We cannot append C-string using push_back().

Implementation:

CPP




// CPP code for comparison on the basis of
// Appending C-string
 
#include <iostream>
#include <string>
using namespace std;
 
// Function to demonstrate comparison among
// +=, append(), push_back()
void appendDemo(string str)
{
    string str1 = str;
 
    // Appending using +=
    str += "GeeksforGeeks";
    cout << "Using += : ";
    cout << str << endl;
 
    // Appending using append()
    str1.append("GeeksforGeeks");
    cout << "Using append() : ";
    cout << str1 << endl;
}
 
// Driver code
int main()
{
    string str("World of ");
 
    cout << "Original String : " << str << endl;
    appendDemo(str);
 
    return 0;
}


Output

Original String : World of 
Using += : World of GeeksforGeeks
Using append() : World of GeeksforGeeks

4) Appending character array: 

  • += : Allows appending of character array
  • append() : Allows appending of character array.
  • push_back : Does not allow char array appending.

Implementation:

CPP




// CPP code for comparison on the basis of
// Appending character array
 
#include <iostream>
#include <string>
using namespace std;
 
// Function to demonstrate comparison among
// +=, append(), push_back()
void appendDemo(string str)
{
    char ch[6] = { 'G', 'e', 'e', 'k', 's', '\0' };
    string str1 = str;
 
    // Appending using +=
    str += ch;
    cout << "Using += : " << str << endl;
 
    // Appending using append()
    str1.append(ch);
    cout << "Using append() : ";
    cout << str1 << endl;
}
 
// Driver code
int main()
{
    string str("World of ");
 
    cout << "Original String : " << str << endl;
    appendDemo(str);
 
    return 0;
}


Output

Original String : World of 
Using += : World of Geeks
Using append() : World of Geeks

5) Appending single character: 

  • += : We can append single character using += operator.
  • append() : Allows appending single character.
  • push_back : Allows appending single character.

CPP




// CPP code for comparison on the basis of
// Appending single character
 
#include <iostream>
#include <string>
using namespace std;
 
// Function to demonstrate comparison among
// +=, append(), push_back()
void appendDemo(string str)
{
    string str1 = str;
    string str2 = str;
 
    // Appending using +=
    str += 'C';
    cout << "Using += : " << str << endl;
    // Appending using append()
    str2.append("C");
    cout << "Using append() : ";
    cout << str2 << endl;
 
    // Appending using push_back()
    str1.push_back('C');
    cout << "Using push_back : ";
    cout << str1;
}
 
// Driver code
int main()
{
    string str("AB");
 
    cout << "Original String : " << str << endl;
    appendDemo(str);
 
    return 0;
}


Output

Original String : AB
Using += : ABC
Using append() : ABC
Using push_back : ABC

6) Iterator range: 

  • += : Doesn’t provide iterator range.
  • append() : Provides iterator range.
  • push_back : Doesn’t provide iterator range.

Implementation:

CPP




// CPP code for comparison on the basis of
// Appending using iterator range
 
#include <iostream>
#include <string>
using namespace std;
 
// Function to demonstrate comparison among
// +=, append(), push_back()
void appendDemo(string str1, string str2)
{
 
    // Appends all characters from
    // str2.begin()+5, str2.end() to str1
    str1.append(str2.begin() + 5, str2.end());
    cout << "Using append : ";
    cout << str1;
}
// Driver code
int main()
{
    string str1("Hello World! ");
    string str2("GeeksforGeeks");
 
    cout << "Original String : " << str1 << endl;
    appendDemo(str1, str2);
 
    return 0;
}


Output

Original String : Hello World! 
Using append : Hello World! forGeeks

7) Return Value: 

  • += : Return *this.
  • append() : Returns *this
  • push_back : Doesn’t return anything.

Implementation:

CPP




// CPP code for comparison on the basis of
// Return value
 
#include <iostream>
#include <string>
using namespace std;
 
// Function to demonstrate comparison among
// +=, append(), push_back()
string appendDemo(string str1, string str2)
{
    // Appends str2 in str1
    str1.append(str2); // Similarly with str1 += str2
    cout << "Using append : ";
 
    // Returns *this
    return str1;
}
 
// Driver code
int main()
{
    string str1("Hello World! ");
    string str2("GeeksforGeeks");
    string str;
    cout << "Original String : " << str1 << endl;
    str = appendDemo(str1, str2);
    cout << str;
    return 0;
}


Output

Original String : Hello World! 
Using append : Hello World! GeeksforGeeks

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Last Updated : 08 Nov, 2022
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