std::string shrink_to_fit() method

since C++20

// Non const version only
constexpr void shrink_to_fit();

since C++11

// Non const version only
void shrink_to_fit();

Requests the removal of unused capacity.
It is a non-binding request to reduce capacity() to size().
It depends on the implementation whether the request is fulfilled.

Invalidation

If reallocation takes place, all pointers, references, and iterators are invalidated.

Parameters

(none)

Return value

(none)

Complexity

since C++17

Linear in the size of the container - O(size()).

until C++17

Unspecified.

Exceptions

(none)

Example

Main.cpp

#include <iostream>
#include <string>
 
int main()
{
    std::string s;
    std::cout << "Size of std::string is " << sizeof s << " bytes\n"
        << "Default-constructed capacity is " << s.capacity() 
        << " and size is " << s.size() << '\n';
    for (int i=0; i<42; i++)
        s.append(" 42 ");
    std::cout << "Capacity after 42 appends is " << s.capacity() 
        << " and size is " << s.size() << '\n';
    s.clear();
    std::cout << "Capacity after clear() is " << s.capacity() 
        << " and size is " << s.size() << '\n';
    s.shrink_to_fit();
    std::cout << "Capacity after shrink_to_fit() is " << s.capacity() 
        << " and size is " << s.size() << '\n';
}

Possible output

GCC output:
Size of std::string is 32 bytes
Default-constructed capacity is 15 and size 0
Capacity after 42 appends is 240 and size 168
Capacity after clear() is 240 and size 0
Capacity after shrink_to_fit() is 15 and size 0
 
clang output (with -stdlib=libc++):
Size of std::string is 24 bytes
Default-constructed capacity is 22 and size is 0
Capacity after 42 appends is 191 and size is 168
Capacity after clear() is 191 and size is 0
Capacity after shrink_to_fit() is 22 and size is 0