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Re: C String terminator

From Ben Bacarisse <ben.usenet@bsb.me.uk>
Newsgroups comp.lang.c
Subject Re: C String terminator
Date 2020-01-16 02:01 +0000
Organization A noiseless patient Spider
Message-ID <874kwwf9cs.fsf@bsb.me.uk> (permalink)
References <qvktc8$gvf$1@dont-email.me> <303beb4a-dd99-4dbd-bbb7-eb8a07632526@googlegroups.com> <87imlcimc8.fsf@nosuchdomain.example.com>

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Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> writes:

> Malcolm McLean <malcolm.arthur.mclean@gmail.com> writes:
> [...]
>> Generally when we use the term "C string" we mean a nul-terminated string
>> with 8 bit characters, or coded in UTF-8.
>
> The C standard's actual definition of "string" has been quoted several
> times in this thread.
>
>> However the C language allows you to construct strings in memory which are
>> not nul terminated.
>
> No, the C language allows you to construct contiguous sequences of
> characters which are not nul terminated.  Such a sequence is by
> definition not a string.
>
>>                     These won't work as expected with printf() or any
>> of the other C string handling functions. However you can write alternatives
>> to these functions that operate on counted strings, or whatever
>> alternative you have chosen.
>
> printf() and other C string handling functions have undefined behavior
> if passed a pointer that doesn't point to a string.

To be a bit picky...  Given

  char a[3] = "foo", b[3] = "bar";  // neither is null-terminated.

a call like

  strncmp(a, b, sizeof a)
 
is not undefined even though the standard calls strncmp a string
handling function.  The description takes care to talk about character
arrays, though.

Calls like

  strcmp(a, b)
  strchr(a, 'o')
  strspn(b, "abc")

would, from an operational point of view, seem to be well-defined as the
presence of a null is not obviously needed, but the function
descriptions say the pointers should point to strings.  Are they
undefined calls?

-- 
Ben.

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Thread

C String terminator T <T@invalid.invalid> - 2020-01-14 09:22 -0800
  Re: C String terminator Malcolm McLean <malcolm.arthur.mclean@gmail.com> - 2020-01-14 09:32 -0800
    Re: C String terminator T <T@invalid.invalid> - 2020-01-14 09:43 -0800
      Re: C String terminator Bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2020-01-14 17:53 +0000
        Re: C String terminator David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2020-01-14 20:17 +0100
          Re: C String terminator Bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2020-01-14 20:01 +0000
      Re: C String terminator Malcolm McLean <malcolm.arthur.mclean@gmail.com> - 2020-01-14 09:57 -0800
        Re: C String terminator Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2020-01-14 11:37 -0800
          Re: C String terminator T <T@invalid.invalid> - 2020-01-15 09:02 -0800
            Re: C String terminator T <T@invalid.invalid> - 2020-01-15 09:38 -0800
              Re: C String terminator T <T@invalid.invalid> - 2020-01-15 09:53 -0800
        Re: C String terminator Manfred <noname@add.invalid> - 2020-01-14 20:48 +0100
    Re: C String terminator chad <cdalten@gmail.com> - 2020-01-15 05:43 -0800
      Re: C String terminator Malcolm McLean <malcolm.arthur.mclean@gmail.com> - 2020-01-15 07:12 -0800
      Re: C String terminator Jorgen Grahn <grahn+nntp@snipabacken.se> - 2020-01-15 15:35 +0000
        Re: C String terminator chad <cdalten@gmail.com> - 2020-01-19 06:20 -0800
    Re: C String terminator Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2020-01-15 10:52 -0800
      Re: C String terminator Malcolm McLean <malcolm.arthur.mclean@gmail.com> - 2020-01-15 12:52 -0800
        Re: C String terminator gazelle@shell.xmission.com (Kenny McCormack) - 2020-01-15 20:56 +0000
        Re: C String terminator Ben Bacarisse <ben.usenet@bsb.me.uk> - 2020-01-16 02:17 +0000
        Re: C String terminator Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2020-01-15 21:54 -0800
          Re: C String terminator fir <profesor.fir@gmail.com> - 2020-01-16 02:07 -0800
            Re: C String terminator Malcolm McLean <malcolm.arthur.mclean@gmail.com> - 2020-01-16 02:45 -0800
              Re: C String terminator Joe Pfeiffer <pfeiffer@cs.nmsu.edu> - 2020-01-16 08:21 -0700
                Re: C String terminator Malcolm McLean <malcolm.arthur.mclean@gmail.com> - 2020-01-16 08:03 -0800
              Re: C String terminator John Bode <jfbode1029@gmail.com> - 2020-01-16 09:06 -0800
              Re: C String terminator James Kuyper <jameskuyper@alumni.caltech.edu> - 2020-01-16 11:29 -0800
      Re: C String terminator Ben Bacarisse <ben.usenet@bsb.me.uk> - 2020-01-16 02:01 +0000
        Re: C String terminator James Kuyper <jameskuyper@alumni.caltech.edu> - 2020-01-15 23:02 -0500
        Re: C String terminator David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2020-01-16 11:15 +0100
          Re: C String terminator Ben Bacarisse <ben.usenet@bsb.me.uk> - 2020-01-16 13:07 +0000
        Re: C String terminator Manfred <noname@add.invalid> - 2020-01-17 18:43 +0100
          Re: C String terminator Tim Rentsch <tr.17687@z991.linuxsc.com> - 2020-01-21 04:00 -0800
          Re: C String terminator James Kuyper <jameskuyper@alumni.caltech.edu> - 2020-01-21 05:00 -0800
  Re: C String terminator Joe Pfeiffer <pfeiffer@cs.nmsu.edu> - 2020-01-14 12:36 -0700
    Re: C String terminator Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2020-01-14 12:05 -0800
      Re: C String terminator Joe Pfeiffer <pfeiffer@cs.nmsu.edu> - 2020-01-14 13:54 -0700
        Re: C String terminator James Kuyper <jameskuyper@alumni.caltech.edu> - 2020-01-14 15:03 -0800
          Re: C String terminator Thiago Adams <thiago.adams@gmail.com> - 2020-01-15 04:55 -0800
            Re: C String terminator Guillaume <message@bottle.org> - 2020-01-15 20:49 +0100
              Re: C String terminator Thiago Adams <thiago.adams@gmail.com> - 2020-01-15 12:55 -0800
        Re: C String terminator Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2020-01-14 21:31 -0800
    Re: C String terminator T <T@invalid.invalid> - 2020-01-15 09:28 -0800
      Re: C String terminator T <T@invalid.invalid> - 2020-01-15 09:38 -0800
        Re: C String terminator Joe Pfeiffer <pfeiffer@cs.nmsu.edu> - 2020-01-15 10:50 -0700
          Re: C String terminator T <T@invalid.invalid> - 2020-01-15 10:17 -0800
        Re: C String terminator T <T@invalid.invalid> - 2020-01-15 09:53 -0800
  Re: C String terminator Richard Damon <Richard@Damon-Family.org> - 2020-01-14 21:43 -0500
  Re: C String terminator "Chris M. Thomasson" <chris.m.thomasson.1@gmail.com> - 2020-01-14 22:52 -0800
    Re: C String terminator "Chris M. Thomasson" <chris.m.thomasson.1@gmail.com> - 2020-01-14 22:54 -0800
  Re: C String terminator Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2020-01-15 02:00 -0800
    Re: C String terminator gazelle@shell.xmission.com (Kenny McCormack) - 2020-01-15 10:47 +0000
      Re: C String terminator Malcolm McLean <malcolm.arthur.mclean@gmail.com> - 2020-01-15 03:02 -0800
    Re: C String terminator T <T@invalid.invalid> - 2020-01-15 10:19 -0800
      Re: C String terminator Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2020-01-15 11:33 -0800
        Re: C String terminator T <T@invalid.invalid> - 2020-01-15 12:03 -0800
          Re: C String terminator Ben Bacarisse <ben.usenet@bsb.me.uk> - 2020-01-16 01:30 +0000
            Re: C String terminator T <T@invalid.invalid> - 2020-01-15 18:17 -0800
              Re: C String terminator Ben Bacarisse <ben.usenet@bsb.me.uk> - 2020-01-16 03:44 +0000
                Re: C String terminator T <T@invalid.invalid> - 2020-01-15 20:33 -0800
          Re: C String terminator fir <profesor.fir@gmail.com> - 2020-01-16 02:26 -0800
  Re: C String terminator Jorgen Grahn <grahn+nntp@snipabacken.se> - 2020-01-15 15:11 +0000
    Re: C String terminator T <T@invalid.invalid> - 2020-01-15 09:32 -0800
      Re: C String terminator Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2020-01-15 10:47 -0800
        Re: C String terminator T <T@invalid.invalid> - 2020-01-15 10:58 -0800
          Re: C String terminator Ben Bacarisse <ben.usenet@bsb.me.uk> - 2020-01-16 01:39 +0000
            Re: C String terminator T <T@invalid.invalid> - 2020-01-15 18:27 -0800
              Re: C String terminator T <T@invalid.invalid> - 2020-01-15 19:03 -0800
              Re: C String terminator Ben Bacarisse <ben.usenet@bsb.me.uk> - 2020-01-16 03:28 +0000
                Re: C String terminator T <T@invalid.invalid> - 2020-01-15 19:33 -0800
                Re: C String terminator T <T@invalid.invalid> - 2020-01-15 19:38 -0800
                Re: C String terminator Ben Bacarisse <ben.usenet@bsb.me.uk> - 2020-01-16 13:31 +0000
                Re: C String terminator T <T@invalid.invalid> - 2020-01-16 09:09 -0800
                Re: C String terminator Joe Pfeiffer <pfeiffer@cs.nmsu.edu> - 2020-01-16 10:27 -0700
                Re: C String terminator T <T@invalid.invalid> - 2020-01-16 10:54 -0800
                Re: C String terminator Ben Bacarisse <ben.usenet@bsb.me.uk> - 2020-01-16 20:59 +0000
                Re: C String terminator T <T@invalid.invalid> - 2020-01-16 14:11 -0800
                Re: C String terminator Ben Bacarisse <ben.usenet@bsb.me.uk> - 2020-01-16 20:17 +0000
                Re: C String terminator T <T@invalid.invalid> - 2020-01-16 14:14 -0800
                Re: C String terminator Ben Bacarisse <ben.usenet@bsb.me.uk> - 2020-01-16 23:45 +0000
                Yes, Ben makes house calls (Was: C String terminator) gazelle@shell.xmission.com (Kenny McCormack) - 2020-01-16 23:57 +0000
                Re: C String terminator T <T@invalid.invalid> - 2020-01-17 11:28 -0800
                Re: C String terminator Ben Bacarisse <ben.usenet@bsb.me.uk> - 2020-01-17 20:46 +0000
                Re: C String terminator T <T@invalid.invalid> - 2020-01-17 12:48 -0800
                Re: C String terminator T <T@invalid.invalid> - 2020-01-17 12:54 -0800
                Re: C String terminator Bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2020-01-17 21:02 +0000
                Re: C String terminator Bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2020-01-17 21:21 +0000
                Re: C String terminator T <T@invalid.invalid> - 2020-01-17 13:35 -0800
                Re: C String terminator T <T@invalid.invalid> - 2020-01-17 13:44 -0800
                Re: C String terminator fir <profesor.fir@gmail.com> - 2020-01-17 15:03 -0800
                Re: C String terminator fir <profesor.fir@gmail.com> - 2020-01-17 15:06 -0800
                Re: C String terminator Ike Naar <ike@sdf.lonestar.org> - 2020-01-18 07:30 +0000
                Re: C String terminator Lew Pitcher <lew.pitcher@digitalfreehold.ca> - 2020-01-17 16:06 -0500
                Re: C String terminator Lew Pitcher <lew.pitcher@digitalfreehold.ca> - 2020-01-17 16:23 -0500
                Re: C String terminator T <T@invalid.invalid> - 2020-01-17 13:37 -0800
                Re: C String terminator Tim Rentsch <tr.17687@z991.linuxsc.com> - 2020-01-21 04:10 -0800
                Re: C String terminator Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2020-01-21 10:41 -0800
                Re: C String terminator Malcolm McLean <malcolm.arthur.mclean@gmail.com> - 2020-01-17 01:55 -0800
                Re: C String terminator Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2020-01-17 09:52 -0800
                Re: C String terminator T <T@invalid.invalid> - 2020-01-17 11:29 -0800
                Re: C String terminator Ben Bacarisse <ben.usenet@bsb.me.uk> - 2020-01-16 18:21 +0000
                Re: C String terminator T <T@invalid.invalid> - 2020-01-16 10:50 -0800
                Re: C String terminator Ben Bacarisse <ben.usenet@bsb.me.uk> - 2020-01-16 20:50 +0000
                Re: C String terminator T <T@invalid.invalid> - 2020-01-16 14:17 -0800
  Re: C String terminator Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2020-01-15 09:59 -0800
  Re: C String terminator T <T@invalid.invalid> - 2020-01-15 10:15 -0800
  Re: C String terminator T <T@invalid.invalid> - 2020-01-18 21:42 -0800
    Re: C String terminator T <T@invalid.invalid> - 2020-01-19 22:13 -0800
  Re: C String terminator Bonita Montero <Bonita.Montero@gmail.com> - 2020-01-21 19:49 +0100
  Re: C String terminator John Bode <jfbode1029@gmail.com> - 2020-01-21 15:33 -0800
    Re: C String terminator Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2020-01-21 23:19 -0800
    Re: C String terminator Bonita Montero <Bonita.Montero@gmail.com> - 2020-01-22 08:39 +0100
      Re: C String terminator chad <cdalten@gmail.com> - 2020-01-22 06:59 -0800
        Re: C String terminator Bonita Montero <Bonita.Montero@gmail.com> - 2020-01-22 18:44 +0100

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