C++ String strcat() Function

Posted in C++ Tutorial

Updated on Jan 15, 2024

By Mari Selvan

👁️ 84 - Views

⏳ 4 mins

💬 1 Comment

Photo Credit to CodeToFun

🙋 Introduction

In C++ programming, manipulating strings is a common task, and the strcat() function is a part of the C Standard Library that facilitates string concatenation.

This function is used to concatenate (append) one string to the end of another.

In this tutorial, we'll explore the usage and functionality of the strcat() function in C++.

💡 Syntax

The signature of the strcat() function is as follows:

Syntax

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char* strcat(char* destination, const char* source);

This function takes two parameters:

destination: A pointer to the destination string, where the concatenation will occur.
source: A pointer to the source string, which will be appended to the destination.

📄 Example

Let's delve into an example to illustrate how the strcat() function works.

strcat.cpp

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#include <iostream>
#include <cstring>

int main() {
  // Destination string with sufficient space
  char destination[20] = "Hello, ";

  // Source string to be concatenated
  const char * source = "World!";

  // Concatenate the source to the destination
  strcat(destination, source);

  // Output the result
  std::cout << "Concatenated String: " << destination << std::endl;

  return 0;
}

💻 Output

Output

Concatenated String: Hello, World!

🧠 How the Program Works

In this example, the strcat() function concatenates the source string "World!" to the destination string "Hello, ".

↩️ Return Value

The strcat() function returns a pointer to the destination string. The resulting string in the destination array is modified.

📚 Common Use Cases

The strcat() function is useful when you need to append one string to the end of another. It's commonly used in scenarios where you want to build a string dynamically or concatenate multiple strings.

📝 Notes

Ensure that the destination string has enough space to accommodate the concatenated result. Failure to do so may lead to undefined behavior.
Be cautious when working with character arrays to prevent buffer overflows. Consider using safer alternatives like std::string in C++.

🎢 Optimization

The strcat() function is optimized for efficiency, but it's essential to ensure that the destination string has sufficient space to avoid runtime errors. If you are concatenating strings frequently, consider using the std::string class, which provides a safer and more convenient way to handle strings in C++.

🎉 Conclusion

The strcat() function in C++ is a valuable tool for concatenating strings efficiently. It simplifies the process of appending one string to another and is commonly used in various string manipulation tasks.

Feel free to experiment with different strings and explore the behavior of the strcat() function in various scenarios. Happy coding!