How do I convert a double into a string in C++?

Question

I need to store a double as a string. I know I can use printf if I wanted to display it, but I just want to store it in a string variable so that I can store it in a map later (as the value, not the key).

Answer 1

The problem with lexical_cast is the inability to define precision. Normally if you are converting a double to a string, it is because you want to print it out. If the precision is too much or too little, it would affect your output.

Answer 2

Heh, I just wrote this (unrelated to this question):

string temp = "";
stringstream outStream;
double ratio = (currentImage->width*1.0f)/currentImage->height;
outStream << " R: " << ratio;
temp = outStream.str();

/* rest of the code */

Answer 3

You could also use stringstream.

Answer 4

Take a look at sprintf() and family.

Answer 5

// The C way:
char buffer[32];
snprintf(buffer, sizeof(buffer), "%g", myDoubleVar);

// The C++03 way:
std::ostringstream sstream;
sstream << myDoubleVar;
std::string varAsString = sstream.str();

// The C++11 way:
std::string varAsString = std::to_string(myDoubleVar);

// The boost way:
std::string varAsString = boost::lexical_cast<std::string>(myDoubleVar);

Answer 6

sprintf is okay, but in C++, the better, safer, and also slightly slower way of doing the conversion is with stringstream:

#include <sstream>
#include <string>

// In some function:
double d = 453.23;
std::ostringstream os;
os << d;
std::string str = os.str();

You can also use Boost.LexicalCast:

#include <boost/lexical_cast.hpp>
#include <string>

// In some function:
double d = 453.23;
std::string str = boost::lexical_cast<string>(d);

In both instances, str should be "453.23" afterward. LexicalCast has some advantages in that it ensures the transformation is complete. It uses stringstreams internally.