C++ - char* vs. string*

Question

If I have a pointer that points to a string variable array of chars, is there a difference between typing:

char *name = \"name\";

Answer 1

Yes, there’s a difference. Mainly because you can modify your string but you cannot modify your first version – but the C++ compiler won’t even warn you that this is forbidden if you try.

So always use the second version.

If you need to use a char pointer for whatever reason, make it const:

char const* str = "name";

Now, if you try to modify the contents of str, the compiler will forbid this (correctly). You should also push the warning level of your compiler up a notch: then it will warn that your first code (i.e. char* str = "name") is legal but deprecated.