The problem is you've invented your own definition of the terms "string" and "string handling" which doesn't seem to agree with the generally accepted usage of these words. You're fixated on the word "decode" despite that not being the original focus of the discussion, not being present in my comment or the original comment you're replying to.
I could create a standard library called "arrayofbytes" that lets you, for example:
- Search an array of bytes for a smaller array of bytes
- Split up an array of bytes based on an array of delimiter bytes
- Selectively convert an array of bytes in range 41-5A to bytes in the range 61-7A
But wouldn't it be more appropriate to describe these as "string handling" functions using the generally accepted terminology of our profession?
I could create a standard library called "arrayofbytes" that lets you, for example:
- Search an array of bytes for a smaller array of bytes
- Split up an array of bytes based on an array of delimiter bytes
- Selectively convert an array of bytes in range 41-5A to bytes in the range 61-7A
But wouldn't it be more appropriate to describe these as "string handling" functions using the generally accepted terminology of our profession?