Compare

[newintern]

Hi,

I've run this code, with the answers in the comments on the right. Is anyone able to explain how these numbers are calculated. I understand I'm comparing string S to the string "BCDEF", and understand the result will be 0 if they're equal, but I'm stumped on the below!

string S = "ABCDEF";

cout << S.compare(1,1,"BCDEF") << endl; //-4
cout << S.compare(2,1,"BCDEF") << endl; // 1
cout << S.compare(3,1,"BCDEF") << endl; // 2
cout << S.compare(4,1,"BCDEF") << endl; // 3
cout << S.compare(5,1,"BCDEF") << endl; // 4
cout << S.compare(6,1,"BCDEF") << endl; // -5

Thanks

[jonnin]

The value is not important. It may not be the same value on all compilers and plaforms.

google the compare function. All you are assured is:

value	relation between compared string and comparing string
0	They compare equal
<0	Either the value of the first character that does not match is lower in the compared string, or all compared characters match but the compared string is shorter.
>0	Either the value of the first character that does not match is greater in the compared string, or all compared characters match but the compared string is longer.