strncpy (3p) - Linux Manuals

strncpy: copy part of a string

PROLOG

This manual page is part of the POSIX Programmer's Manual. The Linux implementation of this interface may differ (consult the corresponding Linux manual page for details of Linux behavior), or the interface may not be implemented on Linux.

NAME

strncpy - copy part of a string

SYNOPSIS

#include <string.h>

char *strncpy(char *restrict s1, const char *restrict s2, size_t n);

DESCRIPTION

The strncpy() function shall copy not more than n bytes (bytes that follow a null byte are not copied) from the array pointed to by s2 to the array pointed to by s1. If copying takes place between objects that overlap, the behavior is undefined.

If the array pointed to by s2 is a string that is shorter than n bytes, null bytes shall be appended to the copy in the array pointed to by s1, until n bytes in all are written.

RETURN VALUE

The strncpy() function shall return s1; no return value is reserved to indicate an error.

ERRORS

No errors are defined.

The following sections are informative.

EXAMPLES

None.

APPLICATION USAGE

Character movement is performed differently in different implementations. Thus, overlapping moves may yield surprises.

If there is no null byte in the first n bytes of the array pointed to by s2, the result is not null-terminated.

RATIONALE

None.

FUTURE DIRECTIONS

None.

COPYRIGHT

Portions of this text are reprinted and reproduced in electronic form from IEEE Std 1003.1, 2003 Edition, Standard for Information Technology -- Portable Operating System Interface (POSIX), The Open Group Base Specifications Issue 6, Copyright (C) 2001-2003 by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc and The Open Group. In the event of any discrepancy between this version and the original IEEE and The Open Group Standard, the original IEEE and The Open Group Standard is the referee document. The original Standard can be obtained online at http://www.opengroup.org/unix/online.html .