So is class string, so we're really talking about uses for the operator in C/C++. I'd say the for version is better if you can declare the variable in the init

So is class string, so we're really talking about uses for the operator in C/C++. I'd say the for version is better if you can declare the variable in the initialization section (tighter scope), but the while version has you repeat yourself less if the variable's already there.