How about making explicit specializations of lexical_cast that would be faster than the general implementation? That way the optimization is invisible.
Nevermind optimizations, I think that a simple function call is easier to use and more practical: std::string x=to_string(y). Lexical_cast is in a different domain altogether IMO, plus it has other issues, for example it can't use ADL.
Emil Dotchevski
hitting dictionary.com ... Anti-Defamation League? Activities of Daily Living? I like the idea of defining operator<< and being done with it. You can then use an easy-to-use wrapper to trigger it with all defaults (that would be lexical_cast), or a somewhat more verbose inline formatter that uses stringstreams, or the full ios library, as needed. If it's an explicit specialization, lexical_cast<string> is just another spelling for to_string. TradeStation Group, Inc. is a publicly-traded holding company (NASDAQ GS: TRAD) of three operating subsidiaries, TradeStation Securities, Inc. (Member NYSE, FINRA, SIPC and NFA), TradeStation Technologies, Inc., a trading software and subscription company, and TradeStation Europe Limited, a United Kingdom, FSA-authorized introducing brokerage firm. None of these companies provides trading or investment advice, recommendations or endorsements of any kind. The information transmitted is intended only for the person or entity to which it is addressed and may contain confidential and/or privileged material. Any review, retransmission, dissemination or other use of, or taking of any action in reliance upon, this information by persons or entities other than the intended recipient is prohibited. If you received this in error, please contact the sender and delete the material from any computer.