How to Convert Byte Array to String in Golang

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Here are three ways to convert byte array to string in Go.

  1. Using string() constructor
  2. Using bytes.NewBuffer()
  3. Using fmt.Sprintf()

Convert Byte Array to String in Go

Method 1: Using the string() constructor

The string constructor takes the same bytes as the slice and returns a new string containing that byte arrays.

Using the string() constructor

Syntax

string := string(bytes[:])

Example

package main

import (
 "fmt"
)

func main() {
   bytes := []byte{97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102}
   str := string(bytes)
   fmt.Println(str)
}

Output

abcdef

Method 2: Using the bytes.NewBuffer() package

Go provides a package called bytes with a function called NewBuffer(), which creates a new Buffer and then uses the String() method to get the string output.

Using the bytes.NewBuffer() package

Syntax

bytes.NewBuffer(buf)

Example

package main

import (
 "bytes"
 "fmt"
)

func main() {
   byteArray := []byte{97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102}
   str := bytes.NewBuffer(byteArray).String()
   fmt.Println(str)
}

Output

abcdef

Method 3: Using fmt.Sprintf() function

The fmt.Sprintf() method formats according to a format specifier and returns the resulting string. You can use Sprintf() function to convert an array of bytes to a string.

The fmt.Sprintf() method is slow, but we can convert byte array to string.

Using fmt.Sprintf() function

Example

package main

import (
 "fmt"
)

func main() {
 byteArray := []byte{97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102}
 str := fmt.Sprintf("%s", byteArray)
 fmt.Println(str)
}

Output

abcdef

Which method is the best and why: Table Comparison

Method Result Example Advantages Disadvantages
string() constructor "Hello, AI!" Simplest and most direct method. None.
bytes.NewBuffer() "Hello, AI!" It is helpful when you have other buffer-related operations. Slightly more verbose for just conversion.
fmt.Sprintf() "Hello, AI!" Provides flexibility with formatting. The overhead of using a formatting function.

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