diff --git a/include/cpptoml.h b/include/cpptoml.h
index 5a00da3..3b9ecc5 100644
--- a/include/cpptoml.h
+++ b/include/cpptoml.h
@@ -3231,6 +3231,21 @@ inline std::shared_ptr<table> parse_file(const std::string& filename)
     return p.parse();
 }
 
+
+/**
+ * Utility function to parse a file as a TOML file. Returns the root table.
+ * Throws a parse_exception if the file cannot be opened.
+ */
+inline std::shared_ptr<table> parse_string(const std::string& toml)
+    {
+
+        std::stringstream data{toml};
+        parser p{data};
+        return p.parse();
+    }
+
+
+
 template <class... Ts>
 struct value_accept;