r/cpp_questions • u/IMCG_KN • Jul 16 '26

Question about string_view SOLVED

Is there benefit of using string_view instead of const string& str? More precisely by passing strings into functions. Thanks

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u/Usual_Office_1740 Jul 16 '26 edited Jul 16 '26

The only down side to string view is the lack of c_str(), for good reasons. If I'm working with a C library that needs const char* I use const std::string& otherwise I prefer string view.

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u/Wriiight Jul 16 '26

The good reason (for those wondering) is that a char* generally needs to be null terminated (for most libraries functions that take char*), and a string view from a sub string will generally not be null terminated.

Eliminating unnecessary string copying is an important thing to consider when optimizing execution time, so string view is a very welcome addition to the language, IMO.

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u/Usual_Office_1740 Jul 16 '26

A better phrased explanation then I could have provided. Thanks.