What Is the Difference Between string and []byte in Go

In Go, string is an immutable sequence of bytes, while []byte is a mutable slice of bytes. Use string for text data that shouldn't change and []byte for binary data or when you need to modify the content. Converting between them is straightforward but involves copying the data.

// Convert string to []byte
s := "hello"
b := []byte(s) // b is now [104, 101, 108, 108, 111]

// Convert []byte to string
b2 := []byte{104, 101, 108, 108, 111}
s2 := string(b2) // s2 is now "hello"

Think of a string as a printed label that you cannot erase or change once written. A []byte is like a whiteboard where you can write, erase, and rewrite the content. You use string for text you want to keep safe and []byte when you need to process or change raw data.