# std::basic_string<CharT,Traits,Allocator>::at

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< cpp‎ | string‎ | basic string

| (1) |
reference at( size_type pos ); |  | (until C++20)
constexpr reference at( size_type pos ); |  | (since C++20)
| (2) |
const_reference at( size_type pos ) const; |  | (until C++20)
constexpr const_reference at( size_type pos ) const; |  | (since C++20)

Returns a reference to the character at specified location pos. Bounds checking is performed, exception of type std::out_of_range will be thrown on invalid access.

### Parameters

pos | - | position of the character to return

### Return value

Reference to the requested character.

### Exceptions

Throws std::out_of_range if pos >= size().

If an exception is thrown for any reason, these functions have no effect (strong exception safety guarantee).

### Complexity

Constant.

### Example

Run this code

    #include <iostream>
    #include <stdexcept>
    #include <string>

    int main()
    {
        std::string s("message"); // for capacity

        s = "abc";
        s.at(2) = 'x'; // OK
        std::cout << s << '\n';

        std::cout << "string size = " << s.size() << '\n';
        std::cout << "string capacity = " << s.capacity() << '\n';

        try
        {
            // This will throw since the requested offset is greater than the current size.
            s.at(3) = 'x';
        }
        catch (std::out_of_range const& exc)
        {
            std::cout << exc.what() << '\n';
        }
    }

Possible output:

    abx
    string size = 3
    string capacity = 7
    basic_string::at

### Defect reports

The following behavior-changing defect reports were applied retroactively to previously published C++ standards.

DR | Applied to | Behavior as published | Correct behavior
--- | --- | --- | ---
LWG 847 | C++98 | there was no exception safety guarantee | added strong exception safety guarantee

### See also

operator[] | accesses the specified character (public member function)
at (C++17) | accesses the specified character with bounds checking (public member function of `std::basic_string_view<CharT,Traits>`)

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