Array of Strings in C++ (3 Different Ways to Create)

Array of Strings can be created in C++, which can be quite handy. There are 3 ways to create Array of Strings.

1. Using 2D array (Both C and C++): This method is useful for shuffling, comparing and accessing characters randomly.
   Syntax:

   Char “Name” [“Number of Strings”][“MaxSize of String”]
   Example: Char colour [4][10]
   // Here 4 colours can be inserted with max String size of 10.

   
   
   

   // C++ program to demonstrate array of strings using // 2D character array #include<bits/stdc++.h> using namespace std;    int main() {     // Initialize 2D array     char colour[4][10] = {"Blue", "Red", "Orange",                      "Yellow"};             // Printing Strings stored in 2D array      for (int i = 0; i < 4; i++)          cout << colour[i] << " ";            return 0; }

   Drawbacks of this method:

   • Number of Strings and Size of String – both the values are fixed.
   • A 2D array is allocated, whose second dimension is equal to maximum sized string which causes wastage of space.
2. Using string Keyword (Only in C++): In this method, size of the string is not fixed, hence space is saved.
   Syntax:

   String “Name” [“Number of Strings”]
   Example: String colour[4]

   // C++ program to demonstrate array of strings using // array of strings. #include<bits/stdc++.h> using namespace std;    int main() {     // Initialize String Array     string colour[4] = {"Blue", "Red", "Orange", "Yellow"};            // Print Strings     for (int i = 0; i < 4; i++)          cout << colour[i] << " "; }

   Drawback of this method:

   • Array is of fixed Size
3. Using Vectors (Only C++) STL Container Vector can be used to dynamically allocate Array.
   Syntax:

    Vector “Name”
   Example: Vector Colour

   // C++ program to demonstrate vector of strings using #include<bits/stdc++.h> using namespace std;    int main() {     // Declaring Vector of String type     vector <string> colour;        // Initialize vector with strings using push_back      // command     colour.push_back("Blue");     colour.push_back("Red");     colour.push_back("Orange");     colour.push_back("Yellow");        // Print Strings stored in Vector     for (int i=0; i<colour.size(); i++)             cout << colour[i] << " ";     }

   Output:

   Blue
   Red
   Orange
   Yellow
   

Out of all the three methods, Vector seem to be the best way for creating array of Strings in C++.

Please write comments if you find anything incorrect, or you want to share more information about the topic discussed above.