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String.StartsWith Method

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Definition

Namespace:
System
Assembly:
System.Runtime.dll
Assembly:
mscorlib.dll
Assembly:
netstandard.dll

Overloads

StartsWith(String, Boolean, CultureInfo)

Determines whether the beginning of this string instance matches the specified string when compared using the specified culture.
StartsWith(String, StringComparison)

Determines whether the beginning of this string instance matches the specified string when compared using the specified comparison option.
StartsWith(Char)

Determines whether this string instance starts with the specified character.
StartsWith(String)

Determines whether the beginning of this string instance matches the specified string.

StartsWith(String, Boolean, CultureInfo)

Source:
String.Comparison.cs
Source:
String.Comparison.cs
Source:
String.Comparison.cs

Determines whether the beginning of this string instance matches the specified string when compared using the specified culture.

public:
 bool StartsWith(System::String ^ value, bool ignoreCase, System::Globalization::CultureInfo ^ culture);
public bool StartsWith (string value, bool ignoreCase, System.Globalization.CultureInfo? culture);
public bool StartsWith (string value, bool ignoreCase, System.Globalization.CultureInfo culture);
member this.StartsWith : string * bool * System.Globalization.CultureInfo -> bool
Public Function StartsWith (value As String, ignoreCase As Boolean, culture As CultureInfo) As Boolean

Parameters

value
String

The string to compare.

ignoreCase
Boolean

true to ignore case during the comparison; otherwise, false.

culture
CultureInfo

Cultural information that determines how this string and value are compared. If culture is null, the current culture is used.

Returns

Boolean

true if the value parameter matches the beginning of this string; otherwise, false.

Exceptions

ArgumentNullException

value is null.

Examples

The following example determines whether a string occurs at the beginning of another string. The StartsWith method is called several times using case sensitivity, case insensitivity, and different cultures that influence the results of the search.

// This code example demonstrates the 
// System.String.StartsWith(String, ..., CultureInfo) method.

using System;
using System.Threading;
using System.Globalization;

class Sample 
{
    public static void Main() 
    {
    string msg1 = "Search for the target string \"{0}\" in the string \"{1}\".\n";
    string msg2 = "Using the {0} - \"{1}\" culture:";
    string msg3 = "  The string to search ends with the target string: {0}";
    bool result = false;
    CultureInfo ci;

// Define a target string to search for.
// U+00c5 = LATIN CAPITAL LETTER A WITH RING ABOVE
    string capitalARing = "\u00c5";

// Define a string to search. 
// The result of combining the characters LATIN SMALL LETTER A and COMBINING 
// RING ABOVE (U+0061, U+030a) is linguistically equivalent to the character 
// LATIN SMALL LETTER A WITH RING ABOVE (U+00e5).
    string aRingXYZ = "\u0061\u030a" + "xyz";

// Clear the screen and display an introduction.
    Console.Clear();

// Display the string to search for and the string to search.
    Console.WriteLine(msg1, capitalARing, aRingXYZ);

// Search using English-United States culture.
    ci = new CultureInfo("en-US");
    Console.WriteLine(msg2, ci.DisplayName, ci.Name);

    Console.WriteLine("Case sensitive:");
    result = aRingXYZ.StartsWith(capitalARing, false, ci);
    Console.WriteLine(msg3, result);

    Console.WriteLine("Case insensitive:");
    result = aRingXYZ.StartsWith(capitalARing, true, ci);
    Console.WriteLine(msg3, result);
    Console.WriteLine();

// Search using Swedish-Sweden culture.
    ci = new CultureInfo("sv-SE");
    Console.WriteLine(msg2, ci.DisplayName, ci.Name);

    Console.WriteLine("Case sensitive:");
    result = aRingXYZ.StartsWith(capitalARing, false, ci);
    Console.WriteLine(msg3, result);

    Console.WriteLine("Case insensitive:");
    result = aRingXYZ.StartsWith(capitalARing, true, ci);
    Console.WriteLine(msg3, result);
    }
}

/*
Note: This code example was executed on a console whose user interface 
culture is "en-US" (English-United States).

Search for the target string "Å" in the string "a°xyz".

Using the English (United States) - "en-US" culture:
Case sensitive:
  The string to search ends with the target string: False
Case insensitive:
  The string to search ends with the target string: True

Using the Swedish (Sweden) - "sv-SE" culture:
Case sensitive:
  The string to search ends with the target string: False
Case insensitive:
  The string to search ends with the target string: False

*/

// This code example demonstrates the
// System.String.StartsWith(String, ..., CultureInfo) method.

open System
open System.Globalization
 
[<EntryPoint>]
let main _ =
    let msg1 = "Search for the target string \"{0}\" in the string \"{1}\".\n"
    let msg2 = "Using the {0} - \"{1}\" culture:"
    let msg3 = "  The string to search ends with the target string: {0}"

    // Define a target string to search for.
    // U+00c5 = LATIN CAPITAL LETTER A WITH RING ABOVE
    let capitalARing = "\u00c5"

    // Define a string to search.
    // The result of combining the characters LATIN SMALL LETTER A and COMBINING
    // RING ABOVE (U+0061, U+030a) is linguistically equivalent to the character
    // LATIN SMALL LETTER A WITH RING ABOVE (U+00e5).
    let aRingXYZ = "\u0061\u030a" + "xyz"

    // Clear the screen and display an introduction.
    Console.Clear()

    // Display the string to search for and the string to search.
    Console.WriteLine(msg1, capitalARing, aRingXYZ)

    // Search using English-United States culture.
    let ci = CultureInfo "en-US"
    Console.WriteLine(msg2, ci.DisplayName, ci.Name)

    printfn "Case sensitive:"
    let result = aRingXYZ.StartsWith(capitalARing, false, ci)
    Console.WriteLine(msg3, result)

    printfn "Case insensitive:"
    let result = aRingXYZ.StartsWith(capitalARing, true, ci)
    Console.WriteLine(msg3, result)
    printfn ""

    // Search using Swedish-Sweden culture.
    let ci = CultureInfo "sv-SE"
    Console.WriteLine(msg2, ci.DisplayName, ci.Name)

    printfn "Case sensitive:"
    let result = aRingXYZ.StartsWith(capitalARing, false, ci)
    Console.WriteLine(msg3, result)

    printfn "Case insensitive:"
    let result = aRingXYZ.StartsWith(capitalARing, true, ci)
    Console.WriteLine(msg3, result)
    0
(*
Note: This code example was executed on a console whose user interface
culture is "en-US" (English-United States).

Search for the target string "Å" in the string "a°xyz".

Using the English (United States) - "en-US" culture:
Case sensitive:
  The string to search ends with the target string: False
Case insensitive:
  The string to search ends with the target string: True

Using the Swedish (Sweden) - "sv-SE" culture:
Case sensitive:
  The string to search ends with the target string: False
Case insensitive:
  The string to search ends with the target string: False

*)

' This code example demonstrates the 
' System.String.StartsWith(String, ..., CultureInfo) method.

Imports System.Threading
Imports System.Globalization

Class Sample
    Public Shared Sub Main() 
        Dim msg1 As String = "Search for the target string ""{0}"" in the string ""{1}""." & vbCrLf
        Dim msg2 As String = "Using the {0} - ""{1}"" culture:"
        Dim msg3 As String = "  The string to search ends with the target string: {0}"
        Dim result As Boolean = False
        Dim ci As CultureInfo
        
        ' Define a target string to search for.
        ' U+00c5 = LATIN CAPITAL LETTER A WITH RING ABOVE
        Dim capitalARing As String = "Å"
        
        ' Define a string to search. 
        ' The result of combining the characters LATIN SMALL LETTER A and COMBINING 
        ' RING ABOVE (U+0061, U+030a) is linguistically equivalent to the character 
        ' LATIN SMALL LETTER A WITH RING ABOVE (U+00e5).
        Dim aRingXYZ As String = "å" & "xyz"
        
        ' Clear the screen and display an introduction.
        Console.Clear()
        
        ' Display the string to search for and the string to search.
        Console.WriteLine(msg1, capitalARing, aRingXYZ)
        
        ' Search using English-United States culture.
        ci = New CultureInfo("en-US")
        Console.WriteLine(msg2, ci.DisplayName, ci.Name)
        
        Console.WriteLine("Case sensitive:")
        result = aRingXYZ.StartsWith(capitalARing, False, ci)
        Console.WriteLine(msg3, result)
        
        Console.WriteLine("Case insensitive:")
        result = aRingXYZ.StartsWith(capitalARing, True, ci)
        Console.WriteLine(msg3, result)
        Console.WriteLine()
        
        ' Search using Swedish-Sweden culture.
        ci = New CultureInfo("sv-SE")
        Console.WriteLine(msg2, ci.DisplayName, ci.Name)
        
        Console.WriteLine("Case sensitive:")
        result = aRingXYZ.StartsWith(capitalARing, False, ci)
        Console.WriteLine(msg3, result)
        
        Console.WriteLine("Case insensitive:")
        result = aRingXYZ.StartsWith(capitalARing, True, ci)
        Console.WriteLine(msg3, result)
    
    End Sub
End Class

'
'Note: This code example was executed on a console whose user interface 
'culture is "en-US" (English-United States).
'
'Search for the target string "Å" in the string "a°xyz".
'
'Using the English (United States) - "en-US" culture:
'Case sensitive:
'  The string to search ends with the target string: False
'Case insensitive:
'  The string to search ends with the target string: True
'
'Using the Swedish (Sweden) - "sv-SE" culture:
'Case sensitive:
'  The string to search ends with the target string: False
'Case insensitive:
'  The string to search ends with the target string: False
'

Remarks

This method compares the value parameter to the substring at the beginning of this string that is the same length as value, and returns a value that indicates whether they are equal. To be equal, value must be an empty string (String.Empty), must be a reference to this same instance, or must match the beginning of this instance.

This method performs a comparison using the specified casing and culture.

Applies to

StartsWith(String, StringComparison)

Source:
String.Comparison.cs
Source:
String.Comparison.cs
Source:
String.Comparison.cs

Determines whether the beginning of this string instance matches the specified string when compared using the specified comparison option.

public:
 bool StartsWith(System::String ^ value, StringComparison comparisonType);
public bool StartsWith (string value, StringComparison comparisonType);
[System.Runtime.InteropServices.ComVisible(false)]
public bool StartsWith (string value, StringComparison comparisonType);
member this.StartsWith : string * StringComparison -> bool
[<System.Runtime.InteropServices.ComVisible(false)>]
member this.StartsWith : string * StringComparison -> bool
Public Function StartsWith (value As String, comparisonType As StringComparison) As Boolean

Parameters

value
String

The string to compare.

comparisonType
StringComparison

One of the enumeration values that determines how this string and value are compared.

Returns

Boolean

true if this instance begins with value; otherwise, false.

Attributes
ComVisibleAttribute

Exceptions

ArgumentNullException

value is null.

ArgumentException

comparisonType is not a StringComparison value.

Examples

The following example searches for the string "the" at the beginning of a longer string that begins with the word "The". As the output from the example shows, a call to the StartsWith(String, StringComparison) method that performs a culture-insensitive but case-sensitive comparison fails to match the string, while a call that performs a culture- and case-insensitive comparison matches the string.

using namespace System;

void main()
{
   String^ title = "The House of the Seven Gables";
   String^ searchString = "the";
   StringComparison comparison = StringComparison::InvariantCulture;
   Console::WriteLine("'{0}':", title);
   Console::WriteLine("   Starts with '{0}' ({1:G} comparison): {2}",
                      searchString, comparison,
                      title->StartsWith(searchString, comparison));

   comparison = StringComparison::InvariantCultureIgnoreCase;
   Console::WriteLine("   Starts with '{0}' ({1:G} comparison): {2}",
                      searchString, comparison,
                      title->StartsWith(searchString, comparison));
   }
// The example displays the following output:
//       'The House of the Seven Gables':
//          Starts with 'the' (InvariantCulture comparison): False
//          Starts with 'the' (InvariantCultureIgnoreCase comparison): True

using System;

public class Example
{
   public static void Main()
   {
      String title = "The House of the Seven Gables";
      String searchString = "the";
      StringComparison comparison = StringComparison.InvariantCulture;
      Console.WriteLine("'{0}':", title);
      Console.WriteLine("   Starts with '{0}' ({1:G} comparison): {2}",
                        searchString, comparison,
                        title.StartsWith(searchString, comparison));

      comparison = StringComparison.InvariantCultureIgnoreCase;
      Console.WriteLine("   Starts with '{0}' ({1:G} comparison): {2}",
                        searchString, comparison,
                        title.StartsWith(searchString, comparison));
   }
}
// The example displays the following output:
//       'The House of the Seven Gables':
//          Starts with 'the' (InvariantCulture comparison): False
//          Starts with 'the' (InvariantCultureIgnoreCase comparison): True

open System

let title = "The House of the Seven Gables"
let searchString = "the"
let comparison = StringComparison.InvariantCulture
printfn $"'{title}':"
printfn $"   Starts with '{searchString}' ({comparison:G} comparison): {title.StartsWith(searchString, comparison)}"

let comparison2 = StringComparison.InvariantCultureIgnoreCase
printfn $"   Starts with '{searchString}' ({comparison2:G} comparison): {title.StartsWith(searchString, comparison2)}"
// The example displays the following output:
//       'The House of the Seven Gables':
//          Starts with 'the' (InvariantCulture comparison): False
//          Starts with 'the' (InvariantCultureIgnoreCase comparison): True

Module Example
   Public Sub Main()
      Dim title As String = "The House of the Seven Gables"
      Dim searchString As String = "the"
      Dim comparison As StringComparison = StringComparison.InvariantCulture
      Console.WriteLine("'{0}':", title)
      Console.WriteLine("   Starts with '{0}' ({1:G} comparison): {2}",
                        searchString, comparison,
                        title.StartsWith(searchString, comparison))

      comparison = StringComparison.InvariantCultureIgnoreCase
      Console.WriteLine("   Starts with '{0}' ({1:G} comparison): {2}",
                        searchString, comparison,
                        title.StartsWith(searchString, comparison))
   End Sub
End Module
' The example displays the following output:
'    'The House of the Seven Gables':
'       Starts with 'the' (InvariantCulture comparison): False
'       Starts with 'the' (InvariantCultureIgnoreCase comparison): True

The following example determines whether a string starts with a particular substring. It initializes a two-dimensional string array. The first element in the second dimension contains a string, and the second element contains the string to search for at the start of the first string. The results are affected by the choice of culture, whether case is ignored, and whether an ordinal comparison is performed. Note that when the string instance contains a ligature, culture-sensitive comparisons with its consecutive characters successfully match.

using namespace System;

void main()
{
   array<String^, 2>^ strings = gcnew array<String^, 2> { {"ABCdef", "abc" },                    
                         {"ABCdef", "abc" }, {"œil","oe" }, 
                         { "læring}", "lae" } };
   for (int ctr1 = strings->GetLowerBound(0); ctr1 <= strings->GetUpperBound(0); ctr1++)
   {
         for each (String^ cmpName in Enum::GetNames(StringComparison::typeid))
         { 
            StringComparison strCmp = (StringComparison) Enum::Parse(StringComparison::typeid, 
                                                         cmpName);
            String^ instance = strings[ctr1, 0];
            String^ value = strings[ctr1, 1];
            Console::WriteLine("{0} starts with {1}: {2} ({3} comparison)", 
                               instance, value, 
                               instance->StartsWith(value, strCmp), 
                               strCmp); 
         }
         Console::WriteLine();   
   }   
}

// The example displays the following output:
//       ABCdef starts with abc: False (CurrentCulture comparison)
//       ABCdef starts with abc: True (CurrentCultureIgnoreCase comparison)
//       ABCdef starts with abc: False (InvariantCulture comparison)
//       ABCdef starts with abc: True (InvariantCultureIgnoreCase comparison)
//       ABCdef starts with abc: False (Ordinal comparison)
//       ABCdef starts with abc: True (OrdinalIgnoreCase comparison)
//       
//       ABCdef starts with abc: False (CurrentCulture comparison)
//       ABCdef starts with abc: True (CurrentCultureIgnoreCase comparison)
//       ABCdef starts with abc: False (InvariantCulture comparison)
//       ABCdef starts with abc: True (InvariantCultureIgnoreCase comparison)
//       ABCdef starts with abc: False (Ordinal comparison)
//       ABCdef starts with abc: True (OrdinalIgnoreCase comparison)
//       
//       œil starts with oe: True (CurrentCulture comparison)
//       œil starts with oe: True (CurrentCultureIgnoreCase comparison)
//       œil starts with oe: True (InvariantCulture comparison)
//       œil starts with oe: True (InvariantCultureIgnoreCase comparison)
//       œil starts with oe: False (Ordinal comparison)
//       œil starts with oe: False (OrdinalIgnoreCase comparison)
//       
//       læring} starts with lae: True (CurrentCulture comparison)
//       læring} starts with lae: True (CurrentCultureIgnoreCase comparison)
//       læring} starts with lae: True (InvariantCulture comparison)
//       læring} starts with lae: True (InvariantCultureIgnoreCase comparison)
//       læring} starts with lae: False (Ordinal comparison)
//       læring} starts with lae: False (OrdinalIgnoreCase comparison)

using System;

public class Example
{
   public static void Main()
   {
      string[,] strings = { {"ABCdef", "abc" },                    
                            {"ABCdef", "abc" },  
                            {"œil","oe" },
                            { "læring}", "lae" } };
      for (int ctr1 = strings.GetLowerBound(0); ctr1 <= strings.GetUpperBound(0); ctr1++)
      {
            foreach (string cmpName in Enum.GetNames(typeof(StringComparison)))
            { 
               StringComparison strCmp = (StringComparison) Enum.Parse(typeof(StringComparison), 
                                                      cmpName);
               string instance = strings[ctr1, 0];
               string value = strings[ctr1, 1];
               Console.WriteLine("{0} starts with {1}: {2} ({3} comparison)", 
                                 instance, value, 
                                 instance.StartsWith(value, strCmp), 
                                 strCmp); 
            }
            Console.WriteLine();   
      }   
   }
}
// The example displays the following output:
//       ABCdef starts with abc: False (CurrentCulture comparison)
//       ABCdef starts with abc: True (CurrentCultureIgnoreCase comparison)
//       ABCdef starts with abc: False (InvariantCulture comparison)
//       ABCdef starts with abc: True (InvariantCultureIgnoreCase comparison)
//       ABCdef starts with abc: False (Ordinal comparison)
//       ABCdef starts with abc: True (OrdinalIgnoreCase comparison)
//       
//       ABCdef starts with abc: False (CurrentCulture comparison)
//       ABCdef starts with abc: True (CurrentCultureIgnoreCase comparison)
//       ABCdef starts with abc: False (InvariantCulture comparison)
//       ABCdef starts with abc: True (InvariantCultureIgnoreCase comparison)
//       ABCdef starts with abc: False (Ordinal comparison)
//       ABCdef starts with abc: True (OrdinalIgnoreCase comparison)
//       
//       œil starts with oe: True (CurrentCulture comparison)
//       œil starts with oe: True (CurrentCultureIgnoreCase comparison)
//       œil starts with oe: True (InvariantCulture comparison)
//       œil starts with oe: True (InvariantCultureIgnoreCase comparison)
//       œil starts with oe: False (Ordinal comparison)
//       œil starts with oe: False (OrdinalIgnoreCase comparison)
//       
//       læring} starts with lae: True (CurrentCulture comparison)
//       læring} starts with lae: True (CurrentCultureIgnoreCase comparison)
//       læring} starts with lae: True (InvariantCulture comparison)
//       læring} starts with lae: True (InvariantCultureIgnoreCase comparison)
//       læring} starts with lae: False (Ordinal comparison)
//       læring} starts with lae: False (OrdinalIgnoreCase comparison)

open System

let strings =
    array2D 
      [ [ "ABCdef"; "abc" ]
        [ "ABCdef"; "abc" ]
        [ "œil"; "oe" ]
        [ "læring}"; "lae" ] ]

for ctr1 = strings.GetLowerBound 0 to strings.GetUpperBound 0 do
    for cmpName in Enum.GetNames typeof<StringComparison> do
        let strCmp = Enum.Parse(typeof<StringComparison>, cmpName) :?> StringComparison
        let instance = strings[ctr1, 0]
        let value = strings[ctr1, 1]
        printfn $"{instance} starts with {value}: {instance.StartsWith(value, strCmp)} ({strCmp} comparison)"
    printfn ""
// The example displays the following output:
//       ABCdef starts with abc: False (CurrentCulture comparison)
//       ABCdef starts with abc: True (CurrentCultureIgnoreCase comparison)
//       ABCdef starts with abc: False (InvariantCulture comparison)
//       ABCdef starts with abc: True (InvariantCultureIgnoreCase comparison)
//       ABCdef starts with abc: False (Ordinal comparison)
//       ABCdef starts with abc: True (OrdinalIgnoreCase comparison)
//
//       ABCdef starts with abc: False (CurrentCulture comparison)
//       ABCdef starts with abc: True (CurrentCultureIgnoreCase comparison)
//       ABCdef starts with abc: False (InvariantCulture comparison)
//       ABCdef starts with abc: True (InvariantCultureIgnoreCase comparison)
//       ABCdef starts with abc: False (Ordinal comparison)
//       ABCdef starts with abc: True (OrdinalIgnoreCase comparison)
//
//       œil starts with oe: True (CurrentCulture comparison)
//       œil starts with oe: True (CurrentCultureIgnoreCase comparison)
//       œil starts with oe: True (InvariantCulture comparison)
//       œil starts with oe: True (InvariantCultureIgnoreCase comparison)
//       œil starts with oe: False (Ordinal comparison)
//       œil starts with oe: False (OrdinalIgnoreCase comparison)
//
//       læring} starts with lae: True (CurrentCulture comparison)
//       læring} starts with lae: True (CurrentCultureIgnoreCase comparison)
//       læring} starts with lae: True (InvariantCulture comparison)
//       læring} starts with lae: True (InvariantCultureIgnoreCase comparison)
//       læring} starts with lae: False (Ordinal comparison)
//       læring} starts with lae: False (OrdinalIgnoreCase comparison)

Module Example
   Public Sub Main()
      Dim strings(,) As String = { {"ABCdef", "abc" },                    
                                   {"ABCdef", "abc" },  
                                   {"œil","oe" },
                                   { "læring}", "lae" } }
      For ctr1 As Integer = strings.GetLowerBound(0) To strings.GetUpperBound(0)
            For Each cmpName As String In [Enum].GetNames(GetType(StringComparison)) 
               Dim strCmp As StringComparison = CType([Enum].Parse(GetType(StringComparison), 
                                                      cmpName), StringComparison)
               Dim instance As String = strings(ctr1, 0)
               Dim value As String = strings(ctr1, 1)
               Console.WriteLine("{0} starts with {1}: {2} ({3} comparison)", 
                                 instance, value, 
                                 instance.StartsWith(value, strCmp), 
                                 strCmp) 
            Next
            Console.WriteLine()   
      Next   
   End Sub
End Module
' The example displays the following output:
'       ABCdef starts with abc: False (CurrentCulture comparison)
'       ABCdef starts with abc: True (CurrentCultureIgnoreCase comparison)
'       ABCdef starts with abc: False (InvariantCulture comparison)
'       ABCdef starts with abc: True (InvariantCultureIgnoreCase comparison)
'       ABCdef starts with abc: False (Ordinal comparison)
'       ABCdef starts with abc: True (OrdinalIgnoreCase comparison)
'       
'       ABCdef starts with abc: False (CurrentCulture comparison)
'       ABCdef starts with abc: True (CurrentCultureIgnoreCase comparison)
'       ABCdef starts with abc: False (InvariantCulture comparison)
'       ABCdef starts with abc: True (InvariantCultureIgnoreCase comparison)
'       ABCdef starts with abc: False (Ordinal comparison)
'       ABCdef starts with abc: True (OrdinalIgnoreCase comparison)
'       
'       œil starts with oe: True (CurrentCulture comparison)
'       œil starts with oe: True (CurrentCultureIgnoreCase comparison)
'       œil starts with oe: True (InvariantCulture comparison)
'       œil starts with oe: True (InvariantCultureIgnoreCase comparison)
'       œil starts with oe: False (Ordinal comparison)
'       œil starts with oe: False (OrdinalIgnoreCase comparison)
'       
'       læring} starts with lae: True (CurrentCulture comparison)
'       læring} starts with lae: True (CurrentCultureIgnoreCase comparison)
'       læring} starts with lae: True (InvariantCulture comparison)
'       læring} starts with lae: True (InvariantCultureIgnoreCase comparison)
'       læring} starts with lae: False (Ordinal comparison)
'       læring} starts with lae: False (OrdinalIgnoreCase comparison)

Remarks

The StartsWith method compares the value parameter to the substring at the beginning of this string and returns a value that indicates whether they are equal. To be equal, value must be a reference to this same string, must be the empty string (""), or must match the beginning of this string. The type of comparison performed by the StartsWith method depends on the value of the comparisonType parameter. The comparison can use the conventions of the current culture (StringComparison.CurrentCulture and StringComparison.CurrentCultureIgnoreCase) or the invariant culture (StringComparison.InvariantCulture and StringComparison.InvariantCultureIgnoreCase), or it can consist of a character-by-character comparison of code points (StringComparison.Ordinal or StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase). The comparison can also be case-sensitive (StringComparison.CurrentCulture, StringComparison.InvariantCulture, or StringComparison.Ordinal), or it can ignore case (StringComparison.CurrentCultureIgnoreCase, StringComparison.InvariantCultureIgnoreCase, StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase).

See also

Applies to

StartsWith(Char)

Source:
String.Comparison.cs
Source:
String.Comparison.cs
Source:
String.Comparison.cs

Determines whether this string instance starts with the specified character.

public:
 bool StartsWith(char value);
public bool StartsWith (char value);
member this.StartsWith : char -> bool
Public Function StartsWith (value As Char) As Boolean

Parameters

value
Char

The character to compare.

Returns

Boolean

true if value matches the beginning of this string; otherwise, false.

Remarks

This method performs an ordinal (case-sensitive and culture-insensitive) comparison.

Applies to

StartsWith(String)

Source:
String.Comparison.cs
Source:
String.Comparison.cs
Source:
String.Comparison.cs

Determines whether the beginning of this string instance matches the specified string.

public:
 bool StartsWith(System::String ^ value);
public bool StartsWith (string value);
member this.StartsWith : string -> bool
Public Function StartsWith (value As String) As Boolean

Parameters

value
String

The string to compare.

Returns

Boolean

true if value matches the beginning of this string; otherwise, false.

Exceptions

ArgumentNullException

value is null.

Examples

The following example defines a StripStartTags method that uses the StartsWith(String) method to remove HTML start tags from the beginning of a string. Note that the StripStartTags method is called recursively to ensure that multiple HTML start tags at the beginning of the line are removed. The example does not remove HTML tags embedded in a string.

using namespace System;

String^ StripStartTags( String^ item )
{
   // Determine whether a tag begins the string.
   if (item->Trim()->StartsWith("<")) {
      // Find the closing tag.
      int lastLocation = item->IndexOf(">");
      
      // Remove the tag.
      if ( lastLocation >= 0 ) {
         item = item->Substring(lastLocation+ 1);
            
         // Remove any additional starting tags.
         item = StripStartTags(item);
      }      
   }

   return item;
}

int main()
{
   array<String^>^ strSource = { "<b>This is bold text</b>",
                   "<H1>This is large Text</H1>",
                   "<b><i><font color=green>This has multiple tags</font></i></b>",
                   "<b>This has <i>embedded</i> tags.</b>",
                   "<This line simply begins with a lesser than symbol, it should not be modified" };
   
   // Display the initial string array.
   Console::WriteLine("The original strings:");
   Console::WriteLine("---------------------");
   for each (String^ s in strSource)    
      Console::WriteLine( s );
   Console::WriteLine();

   Console::WriteLine( "Strings after starting tags have been stripped:");
   Console::WriteLine( "-----------------------------------------------");
   
   // Display the strings with starting tags removed.
   for each (String^ s in strSource)
      Console::WriteLine(StripStartTags(s));
}
// The example displays the following output:
//    The original strings:
//    ---------------------
//    <b>This is bold text</b>
//    <H1>This is large Text</H1>
//    <b><i><font color = green>This has multiple tags</font></i></b>
//    <b>This has <i>embedded</i> tags.</b>
//    <This line simply begins with a lesser than symbol, it should not be modified
//    
//    Strings after starting tags have been stripped:
//    -----------------------------------------------
//    This is bold text</b>
//    This is large Text</H1>
//    This has multiple tags</font></i></b>
//    This has <i>embedded</i> tags.</b>
//    <This line simply begins with a lesser than symbol, it should not be modified

using System;

public class Example
{
   public static void Main() {
      string [] strSource = { "<b>This is bold text</b>", "<H1>This is large Text</H1>",
                "<b><i><font color=green>This has multiple tags</font></i></b>",
                "<b>This has <i>embedded</i> tags.</b>",
                "<This line simply begins with a lesser than symbol, it should not be modified" };

      // Display the initial string array.
      Console.WriteLine("The original strings:");
      Console.WriteLine("---------------------");
      foreach (var s in strSource)
         Console.WriteLine(s);
      Console.WriteLine();

      Console.WriteLine("Strings after starting tags have been stripped:");
      Console.WriteLine("-----------------------------------------------");

      // Display the strings with starting tags removed.
     foreach (var s in strSource)
        Console.WriteLine(StripStartTags(s));
   }

   private static string StripStartTags(string item)
   {
      // Determine whether a tag begins the string.
      if (item.Trim().StartsWith("<")) {
         // Find the closing tag.
         int lastLocation = item.IndexOf( ">" );
         // Remove the tag.
         if (lastLocation >= 0) {
            item =  item.Substring( lastLocation + 1 );

            // Remove any additional starting tags.
            item = StripStartTags(item);
         }
      }

      return item;
   }
}
// The example displays the following output:
//    The original strings:
//    ---------------------
//    <b>This is bold text</b>
//    <H1>This is large Text</H1>
//    <b><i><font color = green>This has multiple tags</font></i></b>
//    <b>This has <i>embedded</i> tags.</b>
//    <This line simply begins with a lesser than symbol, it should not be modified
//
//    Strings after starting tags have been stripped:
//    -----------------------------------------------
//    This is bold text</b>
//    This is large Text</H1>
//    This has multiple tags</font></i></b>
//    This has <i>embedded</i> tags.</b>
//    <This line simply begins with a lesser than symbol, it should not be modified

let rec stripStartTags (item: string) =
    // Determine whether a tag begins the string.
    if item.Trim().StartsWith "<" then
        // Find the closing tag.
        let lastLocation = item.IndexOf ">"
        // Remove the tag.
        let item = 
            if lastLocation >= 0 then
                item.Substring( lastLocation + 1 )
            else 
                item

        // Remove any additional starting tags.
        stripStartTags item
    else
        item

let strSource = 
    [| "<b>This is bold text</b>"; "<H1>This is large Text</H1>"
       "<b><i><font color=green>This has multiple tags</font></i></b>"
       "<b>This has <i>embedded</i> tags.</b>"
       "<This line simply begins with a lesser than symbol, it should not be modified" |]

// Display the initial string array.
printfn "The original strings:"
printfn "---------------------"
for s in strSource do
    printfn $"{s}"
printfn ""

printfn "Strings after starting tags have been stripped:"
printfn "-----------------------------------------------"

// Display the strings with starting tags removed.
for s in strSource do
    printfn $"{stripStartTags s}"

// The example displays the following output:
//    The original strings:
//    ---------------------
//    <b>This is bold text</b>
//    <H1>This is large Text</H1>
//    <b><i><font color = green>This has multiple tags</font></i></b>
//    <b>This has <i>embedded</i> tags.</b>
//    <This line simply begins with a lesser than symbol, it should not be modified
//
//    Strings after starting tags have been stripped:
//    -----------------------------------------------
//    This is bold text</b>
//    This is large Text</H1>
//    This has multiple tags</font></i></b>
//    This has <i>embedded</i> tags.</b>
//    <This line simply begins with a lesser than symbol, it should not be modified

Public Class Example
   Public Shared Sub Main()
      Dim strSource() As String = { "<b>This is bold text</b>", 
                         "<H1>This is large Text</H1>", 
                         "<b><i><font color = green>This has multiple tags</font></i></b>", 
                         "<b>This has <i>embedded</i> tags.</b>", 
                         "<This line simply begins with a lesser than symbol, it should not be modified" }

      ' Display the initial string array.
      Console.WriteLine("The original strings:")
      Console.WriteLine("---------------------")
      For Each s In strSource
         Console.WriteLine(s)
      Next 
      Console.WriteLine()

      Console.WriteLine("Strings after starting tags have been stripped:")
      Console.WriteLine("-----------------------------------------------") 

      ' Display the strings with starting tags removed.
      For Each s In strSource
         Console.WriteLine(StripStartTags(s))
      Next 
   End Sub 

   Private Shared Function StripStartTags(item As String) As String
      ' Determine whether a tag begins the string.
      If item.Trim().StartsWith("<") Then
         ' Find the closing tag.
         Dim lastLocation As Integer = item.IndexOf(">")
         If lastLocation >= 0 Then
            ' Remove the tag.
            item = item.Substring((lastLocation + 1))
            
            ' Remove any additional starting tags.
            item = StripStartTags(item)
         End If
      End If
      
      Return item
   End Function 
End Class 
' The example displays the following output:
'    The original strings:
'    ---------------------
'    <b>This is bold text</b>
'    <H1>This is large Text</H1>
'    <b><i><font color = green>This has multiple tags</font></i></b>
'    <b>This has <i>embedded</i> tags.</b>
'    <This line simply begins with a lesser than symbol, it should not be modified
'    
'    Strings after starting tags have been stripped:
'    -----------------------------------------------
'    This is bold text</b>
'    This is large Text</H1>
'    This has multiple tags</font></i></b>
'    This has <i>embedded</i> tags.</b>
'    <This line simply begins with a lesser than symbol, it should not be modified

Remarks

This method compares value to the substring at the beginning of this instance that is the same length as value, and returns an indication whether they are equal. To be equal, value must be an empty string (String.Empty), must be a reference to this same instance, or must match the beginning of this instance.

This method performs a word (case-sensitive and culture-sensitive) comparison using the current culture.

Notes to Callers

As explained in Best Practices for Using Strings, we recommend that you avoid calling string comparison methods that substitute default values and instead call methods that require parameters to be explicitly specified. To determine whether a string begins with a particular substring by using the string comparison rules of the current culture, signal your intention explicitly by calling the StartsWith(String, StringComparison) method overload with a value of CurrentCulture for its comparisonType parameter. If you don't need linguistic-aware comparison, consider using Ordinal.

See also

Applies to