C++ FAQ / Section 39 / FAQ 39.1

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Revised Jul 4, 2012

[39.1] How do I convert a value (a number, for example) to a std::string?

There are two easy ways to do this: you can use the <cstdio> facilities or the <iostream> library. In general, you should prefer the <iostream> library.

The <iostream> library allows you to convert pretty much anything to a std::string using the following syntax (the example converts a double, but you could substitute pretty much anything that prints using the << operator):

// File: convert.h
#include <iostream>
#include <sstream>
#include <string>
#include <stdexcept>

class BadConversion : public std::runtime_error {
public:
  BadConversion(std::string const& s)
    : std::runtime_error(s)
    { }
};

inline std::string stringify(double x)
{
  std::ostringstream o;
  if (!(o << x))
    throw BadConversion("stringify(double)");
  return o.str();
}

The std::ostringstream object o offers formatting facilities just like those for std::cout. You can use manipulators and format flags to control the formatting of the result, just as you can for other std::cout.

In this example, we insert x into o via the overloaded insertion operator, <<. This invokes the iostream formatting facilities to convert x into a std::string. The if test makes sure the conversion works correctly — it should always succeed for built-in/intrinsic types, but the if test is good style.

The expression o.str() returns the std::string that contains whatever has been inserted into stream o, in this case the string value of x.

Here's how to use the stringify() function:

#include "convert.h"

void myCode()
{
  double x = ...;
  ...
  std::string s = "the value is " + stringify(x);
  ...
}