Create string_view From Range in C++23

Working with character sequences often requires converting containers like std::vector<char> or arrays into a string-like view without copying data. Traditionally, constructing a std::string_view from a buffer required explicitly specifying the pointer and size, which added unwanted verbosity and could clutter the code.

For instance, consider the following approach:

#include <iostream>
#include <vector>

int main() {
    std::vector buffer = {'H', 'e', 'l', 'l', 'o'};
    std::string_view sv(buffer.data(), buffer.size());

    std::cout << sv << std::endl;

    return 0;
}

Here, the std::string_view constructor requires both a pointer to the data and its length. While effective, this pattern involves manually to specify range parameters and can be error-prone, especially in larger codebases where ranges are common.

Since C++23, this code pattern is simplified by allowing direct construction of a std::string_view from a range. Containers that provide contiguous storage can now be passed directly, making the code cleaner and more readable. This enhancement eliminates the need to manually pass the data pointer and size, improving readability and reducing boilerplate.

#include <iostream>
#include <vector>

int main() {
    std::vector buffer = {'H', 'e', 'l', 'l', 'o'};
    std::string_view sv(buffer);

    std::cout << sv << std::endl;

    return 0;
}