How to convert std::string to lower case?

Question

I want to convert a std::string to lowercase. I am aware of the function tolower(), however in the past I have had issues with this function and it is hardly ideal anyway as use with a std::string would require iterating over each character.

Is there an alternative which works 100% of the time?

Answer 1

Using range-based for loop of C++11 a simpler code would be :

#include <iostream>       // std::cout
#include <string>         // std::string
#include <locale>         // std::locale, std::tolower

int main ()
{
  std::locale loc;
  std::string str="Test String.\n";

 for(auto elem : str)
    std::cout << std::tolower(elem,loc);
}

Answer 2

Code Snippet

#include<bits/stdc++.h>
using namespace std;


int main ()
{
    ios::sync_with_stdio(false);

    string str="String Convert\n";

    for(int i=0; i<str.size(); i++)
    {
      str[i] = tolower(str[i]);
    }
    cout<<str<<endl;

    return 0;
}

Answer 3

This could be another simple version to convert uppercase to lowercase and vice versa. I used VS2017 community version to compile this source code.

#include <iostream>
#include <string>
using namespace std;

int main()
{
    std::string _input = "lowercasetouppercase";
#if 0
    // My idea is to use the ascii value to convert
    char upperA = 'A';
    char lowerA = 'a';

    cout << (int)upperA << endl; // ASCII value of 'A' -> 65
    cout << (int)lowerA << endl; // ASCII value of 'a' -> 97
    // 97-65 = 32; // Difference of ASCII value of upper and lower a
#endif // 0

    cout << "Input String = " << _input.c_str() << endl;
    for (int i = 0; i < _input.length(); ++i)
    {
        _input[i] -= 32; // To convert lower to upper
#if 0
        _input[i] += 32; // To convert upper to lower
#endif // 0
    }
    cout << "Output String = " << _input.c_str() << endl;

    return 0;
}

Note: if there are special characters then need to be handled using condition check.

Answer 4

There is a Boost string algorithm for this:

#include <boost/algorithm/string.hpp>    

std::string str = "HELLO, WORLD!";
boost::algorithm::to_lower(str); // modifies str

Or, for non-in-place:

#include <boost/algorithm/string.hpp>    

const std::string str = "HELLO, WORLD!";
const std::string lower_str = boost::algorithm::to_lower_copy(str);

Answer 5

Here's a macro technique if you want something simple:

#define STRTOLOWER(x) std::transform (x.begin(), x.end(), x.begin(), ::tolower)
#define STRTOUPPER(x) std::transform (x.begin(), x.end(), x.begin(), ::toupper)
#define STRTOUCFIRST(x) std::transform (x.begin(), x.begin()+1, x.begin(),  ::toupper); std::transform (x.begin()+1, x.end(),   x.begin()+1,::tolower)

However, note that @AndreasSpindler's comment on this answer still is an important consideration, however, if you're working on something that isn't just ASCII characters.

Answer 6

// tolower example (C++)
#include <iostream>       // std::cout
#include <string>         // std::string
#include <locale>         // std::locale, std::tolower

int main ()
{
  std::locale loc;
  std::string str="Test String.\n";
  for (std::string::size_type i=0; i<str.length(); ++i)
    std::cout << std::tolower(str[i],loc);
  return 0;
}

For more information: http://www.cplusplus.com/reference/locale/tolower/