std::basic_string<CharT,Traits,Allocator>::front

< cpp‎ | string‎ | basic string
 
C++
 
Strings library
 
std::basic_string
 
CharT& front();
 (since C++11)
const CharT& front() const;
 (since C++11)

Returns reference to the first character in the string. The behavior is undefined if empty() == true.

Parameters

(none)

Return value

reference to the first character, equivalent to operator[](0).

Complexity

Constant

Example

Run this code
#include <iostream>
#include <string>
 
int main()
{
  {
    std::string s("Exemplary");
    char& f = s.front();
    f = 'e';
    std::cout << s << '\n'; // "exemplary"
  }
 
  {
    std::string const c("Exemplary");
    char const& f = c.front();
    std::cout << &f << '\n'; // "Exemplary"
  }
}

Output: 

exemplary
Exemplary

See also

(C++11)
 accesses the last character
(public member function)