C++ : Turn char array into a string that is printed

Question

just a beginner student learning basic C++. I'm trying to figure out the best way to:

Turn a char array Name of 20 into a string that can be printed. I found in other Stack Overflow topics to use "str()" such as "str(Name)", but it always comes up 'identifier not found'.
```
cout << "Name:" << str(Name) << endl;
```
Set a char array of 20 characters. For some reason, the following gives me errors when declaring. I've tweaked it so many times, but I cannot get why it won't give.
```
TESCStudent.Name[20] = {'S','u','p','e','r','P','r','o','g','r','a','m','m','e','r','\0'};
```

Full code I have so far:

#include <iostream>
#include <conio.h>
#include <string>
using namespace std;

//Step 1
struct StudentRecord
{
char Name[20];
//Accessor
void printInfo() const;
};

void StudentRecord::printInfo() const
{
cout << "Name:" << str(Name) << endl;
}

int main()
{
//Step 2
StudentRecord TESCStudent;
TESCStudent.Name[20] = {'S','u','p','e','r','P','r','o','g','r','a','m','m','e','r','\0'};

//Step 3
TESCStudent.printInfo();

_getch();
return 0;
}

An array of char is already a string that can be printed. Test it out by doing cout << Name;. — David G
– David G, Commented Jul 30, 2014 at 16:42
@0x499602D2 More reasons to use std::string. char[] (as opposed to std::string) is definitely not "basic" C++. — sh03
– sh03, Commented Jul 30, 2014 at 16:46

sh03 · Accepted Answer · 2014-07-30 16:54:52Z

1

Given that you are at a very beginner level, just use std::string:

#include <iostream>
#include <conio.h>
#include <string>

struct StudentRecord {
    std::string Name;
    void printInfo() const {
        std::cout << "Name:" << Name << '\n';
    }
};

int main() {
    StudentRecord TESCStudent;
    TESCStudent.Name = "SuperProgrammer";
    TESCStudent.printInfo();

    _getch();
}

Live demo

answered Jul 30, 2014 at 16:54

sh03

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4 Comments

Christian Hackl Over a year ago

@SamuelGarcia: Why is it not what you need? Don't let the "Given that you are at a very beginner level" confuse you. I'm sure it was intended in the opposite sense: C++ beginners tend to overuse char arrays, whereas experienced programmers appreciate the benefits of std::string.

sh03 Over a year ago

@ChristianHackl Both beginners and experienced programmers (especially beginners) should use std::string. char[] is something you may want to study later in the years. C++ beginners tend to overuse char arrays, because there are terrible tutorials out there that advocate such a thing (often together with new and new[] overuse).

Christian Hackl Over a year ago

@Jeffrey: I think the also overuse it because they either come from C or from a newer language where arrays are not very dangerous in the first place, or because they assume that a built-in feature must be the first choice.

Samuel Garcia Over a year ago

@ChristianHackl I was required and instructed to use char[]. That's why I don't need it.

James Curran · Accepted Answer · 2014-07-30 16:55:33Z

0

The syntax like this:

char Name[20] = {'S','u','p','e','r','\0'};

is used to initialize a variable when you define it. However, in your case,

StudentRecord TESCStudent;
TESCStudent.Name[20] = ...;

You've already defined it on the line before, so you can't "initialize", you have to "assign" it.

This is pretty much why you use std:string instead of char[].

answered Jul 30, 2014 at 16:55

James Curran

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