C++11: String Iterators vs Indexing

What are the main differences between string iterators and indexing in C++11?

String iterators in C++11 provide a way to traverse strings using iterator semantics, while indexing allows direct access to characters using their position. Iterators are more flexible and can be used with algorithms, whereas indexing is straightforward but less versatile.

Can you give an example of using string iterators?

Sure! Here's a simple example:

std::string str = "Hello, World!";
for (std::string::iterator it = str.begin(); it != str.end(); ++it) {
    std::cout << *it << ' ';
}

This code prints each character in the string using an iterator.

What about indexing? How would that look?

Using indexing is quite simple. Here's an example:

std::string str = "Hello, World!";
for (size_t i = 0; i < str.size(); ++i) {
    std::cout << str[i] << ' ';
}

This code achieves the same result by accessing each character directly by its index.

Which method is generally preferred?

It depends on the context. If you're working with algorithms that require iterators, then string iterators are preferred. For simple tasks, indexing is often more straightforward and easier to read.