Create a multiline string literal in C++

This post will discuss how to create a multiline string literal in C++.

1. Using string literals

C++ offers implicit string concatenation, where two or more string literals are joined together by the compiler if they are adjacent. This implicit concatenation can be used to create a multiline string literal in C++, as shown below:

#include <iostream>

#include <string>

int main()

{

std::string multiline_str =

"The journey "

"of a thousand miles "

"begins with one step.";

std::cout << multiline_str << std::endl;

return 0;

}

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Output:

The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.

2. Using Backslash

If we place a backslash at the end of each line, the compiler removes the new-line and preceding backslash character. This forms the multiline string. Unlike the previous approach, indentation matters here.

#include <iostream>

#include <string>

int main()

{

std::string multiline_str = "The journey \

of a thousand miles \

begins with one step.";

std::cout << multiline_str << std::endl;

return 0;

}

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Output:

The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.

3. Using Raw String Literals

The best option to form a multiline string literal is using the raw string literal. This solution is short and elegant, but it is available only with C++11. Note that all spaces, newlines, indentations in the string are preserved.

#include <iostream>

#include <string>

int main()

{

std::string multiline_str = R"(The journey

of a thousand miles

begins with one step.)";

std::cout << multiline_str << std::endl;

return 0;

}

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Output:

The journey
of a thousand miles
begins with one step.

4. Using Macros

Finally, we can use macros to create a multiline string in C++. The indentation does not matter here, and the solution replaces multiple consecutive whitespace characters with a single space.

#include <iostream>

#include <string>

#define MULTILINE_STRING(...) #__VA_ARGS__

int main()

{

std::string multiline_str = MULTILINE_STRING(The journey

of a thousand miles

begins with one step.);

std::cout << multiline_str << std::endl;

return 0;

}

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Output:

The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.

Or use below:

#include <iostream>

#include <string>

#define MULTILINE_STRING(s) #s

int main()

{

std::string multiline_str = MULTILINE_STRING(The journey

of a thousand miles

begins with one step.);

std::cout << multiline_str << std::endl;

return 0;

}

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Output:

The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.

That’s all about creating a multiline string literal in C++.

Create a multiline string literal in C++

1. Using string literals

2. Using Backslash

3. Using Raw String Literals

4. Using Macros

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