A small selection of useful C++ string class methods

Last modified: 2026-10-22

• length - expects nothing, and returns the number of characters in the calling string object
  • for example:

    const string HUMBOLDT_LOC = "Arcata";
    
    HUMBOLDT_LOC.length() == 6

• at - expects an int, a desired position within a string, and returns a char, the single character at that position within the calling string. (BUT: the position of the first character in the string is 0...!)
  • for example:

    HUMBOLDT_LOC.at(0) == 'A'
    
    HUMBOLDT_LOC.at(2) == 'c'

• substr - 1-argument version: expects an int, a desired starting position, and returns the string starting at that position in the calling string and going until the end of the calling string. (BUT: the position of the first character in the string is 0...!)
  • for example:

    HUMBOLDT_LOC.substr(3) == "ata"

• substr - 2-argument version: expects a starting position and a desired length (a desired number of characters to grab), and returns the string starting at that position in the calling string and grabbing that many characters (or until the end of the calling string, whatever comes first). (BUT: the position of the first character in the string is 0...!)
  • for example:

    HUMBOLDT_LOC.substr(2, 3) == "cat"