Problems w/ Arrays of Characters Next Slide

In a previous lab, we discussed some categories of problems that occur with strings represented as simple arrays of characters:

  • Errors, such as array indices that are out of range.

  • Static-ness, such as the inability of arrays to grow:
    char s[10];
    strcpy(s, "How now brown cow?");  // Not enough room!
    

  • Unnatural/Inconvenient-ness, such as the inability to use meaningful operators with arrays:
    if (label1 > label2)  // Can't do with arrays!
      label1 = label2;
    

  • Inefficiency, such as the need to traverse to the end of a string to determine its length.


BU CAS CS - A String Class: Part II - Lab
Copyright © 1993-2000 by Robert I. Pitts <rip@bu.edu> All Rights Reserved.