String (computer Science)
In computer programming, a string is traditionally a sequence of characters, either as a literal constant or as some kind of variable. The latter may allow its elements to be mutated and/or the length changed, or it may be fixed (after creation). A string is generally understood as a data type and is often implemented as an array of bytes (or words) that stores a sequence of elements, typically characters, using some character encoding. A string may also denote more general array data types and/or other sequential data types and structures; terms such as string or string of are sometimes used to denote strings in which the stored data represents other data types.
Depending on programming language and/or precise data type used, a variable declared to be a string may either cause storage in memory to be statically allocated for a predetermined max length or employ dynamic allocation to allow it to hold chronologically variable number of elements.
When a string appears literally in source code, it is known as a string literal and has a representation that denotes it as such.
In formal languages, which are used in mathematical logic and theoretical computer science, a string is a finite sequence of symbols that are chosen from a set called an alphabet.
Read more about String (computer Science): Formal Theory, String Datatypes, Text File Strings, Non-text Strings, String Processing Algorithms, Character String-oriented Languages and Utilities, Character String Functions
Famous quotes containing the word string:
“The Indian remarked as before, “Must have hard wood to cook moose-meat,” as if that were a maxim, and proceeded to get it. My companion cooked some in California fashion, winding a long string of the meat round a stick and slowly turning it in his hand before the fire. It was very good. But the Indian, not approving of the mode, or because he was not allowed to cook it his own way, would not taste it.”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)