What are the differences between std::string and std::string_view in C++17?

What are the differences between std::string and std::string_view in C++17?

In C++17, std::string is a mutable string class that manages its own memory, while std::string_view is a lightweight, non-owning view of a string. This means std::string_view does not allocate memory and is more efficient for read-only operations.

When should I use std::string_view instead of std::string?

You should use std::string_view when you want to avoid unnecessary copies of strings, especially when passing strings to functions that do not need to modify them. It's ideal for performance-sensitive code.

Are there any limitations to using std::string_view?

Yes, std::string_view does not own the string data it points to, so you must ensure that the underlying string remains valid for the lifetime of the string_view. If the original string is destroyed, the string_view becomes dangling.

Can std::string_view be used with string literals?

Absolutely! std::string_view can be initialized with string literals, making it a great choice for functions that take string parameters without needing to create a std::string object.