How do I convert a long to a string in C++?

Question

How do I convert a long to a string in C++?

Answer 1

You could use stringstream.

#include <sstream>

// ...
std::string number;
std::stringstream strstream;
strstream << 1L;
strstream >> number;

There is usually some proprietary C functions in the standard library for your compiler that does it too. I prefer the more "portable" variants though.

The C way to do it would be with sprintf, but that is not very secure. In some libraries there is new versions like sprintf_s which protects against buffer overruns.

Answer 2

In C++11, there are actually std::to_string and std::to_wstring functions in <string>.

string to_string(int val);
string to_string(long val);
string to_string(long long val);
string to_string(unsigned val);
string to_string(unsigned long val);
string to_string(unsigned long long val);
string to_string(float val);
string to_string(double val);
string to_string (long double val);

Answer 3

   #include <sstream>


   ....

    std::stringstream ss;
    ss << a_long_int;  // or any other type
    std::string result=ss.str();   // use .str() to get a string back

Answer 4

There are several ways. Read The String Formatters of Manor Farm for an in-depth comparison.

Answer 5

One of the things not covered by anybody so far, to help you think about the problem further, is what format should a long take when it is cast to a string.

Just have a look at a spreedsheet program (like Calc/Excel). Do you want it rounded to the nearest million, with brackets if it's negative, always to show the sign.... Is the number realy a representation of something else, should you show it in Oractal or Hex instead?

The answers so far have given you some default output, but perhaps not the right ones.

Answer 6

Well if you are fan of copy-paste, here it is:

#include <sstream>

template <class T>
inline std::string to_string (const T& t)
{
    std::stringstream ss;
    ss << t;
    return ss.str();
}