html - How do I open a URL from C++?

Question

how can I open a URL from my C++ program?

In ruby you can do

%x(open https://google.com)

What's the equivalent in C++? I wonder if there's a platform-independent solution. But if there isn't, I'd like the Unix/Mac better :)

Here's my code:

#include <stdio.h>
#include <string.h>
#include <fstream>

int main (int argc, char *argv[])
{
    char url[1000] = "https://www.google.com";

    std::fstream fs;
    fs.open(url);
    fs.close();

    return 0;
}

Answer 1

Your question may mean two different things:

1.) Open a web page with a browser.

#include <windows.h>
#include <shellapi.h>
...
ShellExecute(0, 0, L"http://www.google.com", 0, 0 , SW_SHOW );

This should work, it opens the file with the associated program. Should open the browser, which is usually the default web browser.

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2.) Get the code of a webpage and you will render it yourself or do some other thing. For this I recommend to read this or/and this.

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I hope it's at least a little helpful.

EDIT: Did not notice, what you are asking for UNIX, this only work on Windows.