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

void resize( size_type count );	(1)	(constexpr since C++20)
void resize( size_type count, CharT ch );	(2)	(constexpr since C++20)

Resizes the string to contain count characters.

If the current size is less than count, additional characters are appended:

1) Initializes appended characters to CharT() ('\0' if CharT is char).

2) Initializes appended characters to ch.

If the current size is greater than count, the string is reduced to its first count elements.

Parameters

count	-	new size of the string
ch	-	character to initialize the new characters with

Return value

(none)

Exceptions

std::length_error if count > max_size(). Any exceptions thrown by corresponding Allocator.

If an exception is thrown for any reason, this function has no effect (strong exception safety guarantee).

Example

Run this code

#include <iomanip>
#include <iostream>
#include <stdexcept>
 
int main()
{
    const unsigned desired_length{8};
    std::string long_string("Where is the end?");
    std::string short_string("H");
 
    std::cout << "Basic functionality:\n"
              << "Shorten:\n"
              << "1. Before: " << std::quoted(long_string) << '\n';
    long_string.resize(desired_length);
    std::cout << "2. After:  " << std::quoted(long_string) << '\n';
 
    std::cout << "Lengthen with a given value 'a':\n"
              << "3. Before: " << std::quoted(short_string) << '\n';
    short_string.resize(desired_length, 'a');
    std::cout << "4. After:  " << std::quoted(short_string) << '\n';
 
    std::cout << "Lengthen with char() == " << static_cast<int>(char()) << '\n'
              << "5. Before: " << std::quoted(short_string) << '\n';
    short_string.resize(desired_length + 3);
    std::cout << "6. After:  \"";
    for (char c : short_string)
        std::cout << (c == char() ? '@' : c);
    std::cout << "\"\n\n";
 
    std::cout << "Errors:\n";
    std::string s;
 
    try
    {
        // size is OK, no length_error
        // (may throw bad_alloc)
        s.resize(s.max_size() - 1, 'x');
    }
    catch (const std::bad_alloc& ex)
    {
        std::cout << "1. Exception: " << ex.what() << '\n';
    }
 
    try
    {
        // size is OK, no length_error
        // (may throw bad_alloc)
        s.resize(s.max_size(), 'x');
    }
    catch (const std::bad_alloc& ex)
    {
        std::cout << "2. Exception: " << ex.what() << '\n';
    }
 
    try
    {
        // size is BAD, throw length_error
        s.resize(s.max_size() + 1, 'x');
    }
    catch (const std::length_error& ex)
    {
        std::cout << "3. Length error: " << ex.what() << '\n';
    }
}

Possible output:

Basic functionality:
Shorten:
1. Before: "Where is the end?"
2. After:  "Where is"
Lengthen with a given value 'a':
3. Before: "H"
4. After:  "Haaaaaaa"
Lengthen with char() == 0
5. Before: "Haaaaaaa"
6. After:  "Haaaaaaa@@@"
 
Errors:
1. Exception: std::bad_alloc
2. Exception: std::bad_alloc
3. Length error: basic_string::_M_replace_aux

Defect reports

The following behavior-changing defect reports were applied retroactively to previously published C++ standards.

DR	Applied to	Behavior as published	Correct behavior
LWG 847	C++98	there was no exception safety guarantee	added strong exception safety guarantee

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sizelength	returns the number of characters (public member function)
reserve	reserves storage (public member function)
shrink_to_fit (DR*)	reduces memory usage by freeing unused memory (public member function)