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

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< cpp‎ | string‎ | basic string

| (1) |
basic_string substr( size_type pos = 0, size_type count = npos ) const; |  | (until C++20)
constexpr basic_string substr( size_type pos = 0, size_type count = npos ) const; |  | (since C++20) (until C++23)
constexpr basic_string substr( size_type pos = 0, size_type count = npos ) const&; |  | (since C++23)
constexpr basic_string substr( size_type pos = 0, size_type count = npos ) &&; | (2) | (since C++23)

Returns a substring `[`pos`,` pos + count`)`. If the requested substring extends past the end of the string, i.e. the count is greater than size() - pos (e.g. if count == npos), the returned substring is `[`pos`,` `size()``)`.

1) Equivalent to return basic_string(*this, pos, count);.
2) Equivalent to return basic_string(std::move(*this), pos, count);.

### Parameters

pos | - | position of the first character to include
count | - | length of the substring

### Return value

String containing the substring `[`pos`,` pos + count`)` or `[`pos`,` `size()``)`.

### Exceptions

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

Linear in count.

### Notes

The allocator of the returned string is default-constructed: the new allocator might not be a copy of `get_allocator()`.

### Example

Run this code

    #include <iostream>
    #include <string>

    int main()
    {
        std::string a = "0123456789abcdefghij";

        // count is npos, returns [pos, size())
        std::string sub1 = a.substr(10);
        std::cout << sub1 << '\n';

        // both pos and pos + count are within bounds, returns [pos, pos + count)
        std::string sub2 = a.substr(5, 3);
        std::cout << sub2 << '\n';

        // pos is within bounds, pos + count is not, returns [pos, size())
        std::string sub4 = a.substr(a.size() - 3, 50);
        // this is effectively equivalent to
        // std::string sub4 = a.substr(17, 3);
        // since a.size() == 20, pos == a.size() - 3 == 17, and a.size() - pos == 3

        std::cout << sub4 << '\n';

        try
        {
            // pos is out of bounds, throws
            std::string sub5 = a.substr(a.size() + 3, 50);
            std::cout << sub5 << '\n';
        }
        catch (const std::out_of_range& e)
        {
            std::cout << "pos exceeds string size\n";
        }
    }

Output:

    abcdefghij
    567
    hij
    pos exceeds string size

### 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

copy | copies characters (public member function)
size length | returns the number of characters (public member function)
find | finds the first occurrence of the given substring (public member function)
npos [static] | special value. The exact meaning depends on the context (public static member constant)

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