std::string::back() in C++ with Examples Last Updated : 28 May, 2019 Summarize Comments Improve Suggest changes Share Like Article Like Report This function returns a direct reference to the last character of the string. This shall only be used on non-empty strings. This can be used to access the last character of the string as well as to append a character at the end of the string. Length of the string remains unchanged after appending a character, last character of string gets replaced by the new one Syntax string str ("GeeksforGeeks"); Accessing last character char end_char = str.back(); Appending character at end of string str.back() = '#'; Parameter: This function takes no parameter Return value: A reference to the last character in the string Exception: If the string is empty it shows undefined behavior. Below examples illustrate the use of the above method: Program 1: CPP // C++ program to demonstrate // the use of the above method #include <iostream> // for std::string::back #include <string> using namespace std; int main() { string str("GeeksforGeeks"); // Accessing last character of string char end_char = str.back(); cout << "Last character of string = " << end_char << endl; // Appending a character to // the end of string str.back() = '#'; cout << "New string = " << str << endl; return 0; } Output: Last character of string = s New string = GeeksforGeek# Program 2: It shows undefined behavior when the string is empty. CPP // C++ program to demonstrate // the use of the above method #include <iostream> // for std::string::front #include <string> using namespace std; int main() { string str(""); // Empty string // trying to access last character // of an empty string char end_char = str.back(); cout << "Last character of string = " << end_char << endl; // Appending a character to // the end of an empty string str.back() = '#'; cout << "New string = " << str << endl; return 0; } Output: Last character of string = New string = ÉGà @ · ùþ?aPé£Îý @ ?k¯Ã ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿXé£Îý ÿÿÿ @ Ï?¨Õ,Ä @ Pé£Îý Ï??Á±?ðÏ? Ø%Bð 3ÇGà ¸ÂEà :µ# @ Pé£Îý I @ Hé£Îý ªÿ£Îý ! P·Îý ÿû? d @ @ 8 ÀFà @ é é é é ©ê£Îý Ñÿ£Îý ¹ê£Îý ¾· ùþ?aDdCâ?gCx86_64 Reference: std::string::back() Comment More infoAdvertise with us S sanjeev2552 Follow Improve Article Tags : C++ cpp-string CPP-Functions Practice Tags : CPP Similar Reads C++ Programming Language C++ is a computer programming language developed by Bjarne Stroustrup as an extension of the C language. It is known for is fast speed, low level memory management and is often taught as first programming language. It provides:Hands-on application of different programming concepts.Similar syntax to 5 min read Object Oriented Programming in C++ Object Oriented Programming - As the name suggests uses objects in programming. Object-oriented programming aims to implement real-world entities like inheritance, hiding, polymorphism, etc. in programming. 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