A string in C++ is simply an array of characters with the null character(\0) used to mark the end of the string. C++ provides a set of string handling function in as well as I/O functions in . With the addition of the STL (Standard Template Library), C++ now provides a string class.

But for this assignment, you are to develop your own string class. This will give you a chance to develop and work with a C++ class, define constructors and destructors, define member functions outside of the class body, develop a copy constructor and assignment operator (and understand why!), work with C-Style strings and pointers, dynamically allocate memory and free it when done.

Of course, you must also do suitable testing which implies writing a main function that uses your new string class.

The following is the skeleton of the Mystring class declaration. Mystring.h file is provided. You must produce the Mystring.cpp and main.cpp files.

class Mystring

{

private:

char *pData; //pointer to simple C-style representation of the string

//(i.e., sequence of characters terminated by null)

//pData is only a pointer. You must allocate space for

//the actual character data

int length; //length of the string

//... //possibly other private data

public:

MyString(); //constructor --- create empty string

MyString(char *cString); //constructor --- create a string whose data is a copy of

//cString

~MyString(); //destructor -- don't forget to free space allocated by the constructor

//i.e., the space allocated for the character data

MyString(MyString const& s); //override the default copy constructor --- why?

//important -- think about it -- possible test question

MyString operator = (MyString const& s); //override default assignment operator

void Put(); //output string

void Reverse(); //reverse the string

MyString operator + (MyString const& s); //concatenation operator

// ... //other useful member functions

//as you wish

};