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

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

Parameters

(none)

Return value

Reference to the last character, equivalent to operator [ ] ( size ( ) - 1 ) .

Complexity

Constant.

Notes

In libstdc++, back() is not available in C++98 mode.

Example

#include <iostream>
#include <string>
 
int main()
{
    std::string s("Exemplary");
    char& back1 = s.back();
    back1 = 's';
    std::cout << s << '\n'; // "Exemplars"
 
    std::string const c("Exemplary");
    char const& back2 = c.back();
    std::cout << back2 << '\n'; // 'y'
}

Exemplars
y

Defect reports

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

See also