Array + cin

[dalawh]

Is there a way to store the string entered through cin and store it into an array of char that is exactly the same size? Basically creating an array like: "char a[];" and using it to store cin. If so, how?

string a = "apples";
char b[6];
b=a;

Is the above valid? I know that when a string is converted to a char array, they add a \0 to the end of the array, but since the array size is exactly the same as the char, what happens?

[zvRX92yv]

All strings, no matter the container, (usually :p) is terminated with 0x00. (\0)
Because, say, you want to keep outputting something, char by char.
How will you know when to end? You don't, unless you have a null terminator, 0x00.

Trying to do that will give you an out of bounds error.
And, you can't even do that, you will have to do - b = a.c_str(); to convert it to a char array, since std::string is a class.

And, to answer your question, yes, you can. I'm not sure but I think you can use a pointer, after all, array (headers?) are just pointers to a point in the memory where it starts.

[roberts]

array (headers?) are just pointers to a point in the memory where it starts.

No, not quite. It's an address, but not a pointer. You can pass the address of the array to the pointer, but not the pointer to the array:

char array[10];
char *pointer;

pointer = array;
array = pointer;

In the first, it assigns the address of array to pointer and perfectly legal.
In the second part, there is an attempt to change the address of a static memory block. No can do.

Pointers have more flexibility and it's easier to hang yourself with pointers, but I wouldn't want to be without them.

As for the original post, that can't be done as a string is not really even a char array. It's a class and a char is a fundamental base type.

As for assigning a char array to another char array, no can do. They are both statically defined memory blocks and immobile.

[dalawh]

Still not sure what you guys said. Anyone can simplify it?

[eypros]

You want to convert a std::string to an char array, right?

Not sure why you want that but if you actually have a good reason (I mean search a bit if you actually want this or you just think you do) the 2 member functions are these:
http://www.cplusplus.com/reference/string/string/data/
http://www.cplusplus.com/reference/string/string/c_str/

data() and c_str() do exactly the same except the final \0 being added or not. The c_str() adds the \0, data() is not.

I insist what exactly do you want a c string that std::string cannot do?

[vlad from moscow]

You can use a vector of strings. So your idea shown in your code

string a = "apples";
char b[6];
b=a;

can be realized with using std::vector. For example

#include <string>
#include <vector>

int main()
{
   std::vector<std::string> v;
   std::string s( "apples" );

   v.push_back( s );
}

As for a character array you can use the following code template

std:;string s( "apples" );

char *p = new char[s.size() + 1];

std::strcpy( p, s.c_str() );