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

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

Parameters

(none)

Return value

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

Complexity

Constant.

Notes

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

Example

#include <iostream>
#include <string>
 
int main()
{
    std::string s("Exemplary");
    char& f1 = s.front();
    f1 = 'e';
    std::cout << s << '\n'; // "exemplary"
 
    std::string const c("Exemplary");
    char const& f2 = c.front();
    std::cout << &f2 << '\n'; // "Exemplary"
}

exemplary
Exemplary

Defect reports

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

See also