string::c_str query

Question

Where does the pointer returned by calling string::c_str() point to ? In the following code snippet, I thought I will give get a segmentation fault but it gives me the corre

Answer 1

Where does the pointer returned by calling string::c_str() point to?

It points to some place in memory where a null-terminated string containing the contents of the std::string is located.

The pointer is only valid until the std::string is modified or destroyed. It is also potentially invalidated if you call c_str() or data() again.

Basically, your safest bet is to assume the pointer obtained from c_str() is invalidated the next time you do something to the std::string object.

I should get an invalid memory access.

No, you get undefined behavior. You might get a memory access error of some kind (like a segmentation fault), but your program also might appear to continue running correctly. It might appear to work one time you run your program but fail the next.