1STRCPY(3P)                 POSIX Programmer's Manual                STRCPY(3P)
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PROLOG

6       This  manual  page is part of the POSIX Programmer's Manual.  The Linux
7       implementation of this interface may differ (consult the  corresponding
8       Linux  manual page for details of Linux behavior), or the interface may
9       not be implemented on Linux.
10

NAME

12       strcpy - copy a string
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SYNOPSIS

15       #include <string.h>
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17       char *strcpy(char *restrict s1, const char *restrict s2);
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DESCRIPTION

21       The strcpy() function shall copy the string pointed to by s2 (including
22       the  terminating null byte) into the array pointed to by s1. If copying
23       takes place between objects that overlap, the behavior is undefined.
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RETURN VALUE

26       The strcpy() function shall return s1; no return value is  reserved  to
27       indicate an error.
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ERRORS

30       No errors are defined.
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32       The following sections are informative.
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EXAMPLES

35   Initializing a String
36       The   following   example  copies  the  string  "----------"  into  the
37       permstring variable.
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39
40              #include <string.h>
41              ...
42              static char permstring[11];
43              ...
44              strcpy(permstring, "----------");
45              ...
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47   Storing a Key and Data
48       The following example allocates space for a  key  using  malloc()  then
49       uses  strcpy() to place the key there. Then it allocates space for data
50       using malloc(), and uses strcpy() to  place  data  there.   (The  user-
51       defined function dbfree() frees memory previously allocated to an array
52       of type struct element *.)
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55              #include <string.h>
56              #include <stdlib.h>
57              #include <stdio.h>
58              ...
59              /* Structure used to read data and store it. */
60              struct element {
61                  char *key;
62                  char *data;
63              };
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66              struct element *tbl, *curtbl;
67              char *key, *data;
68              int count;
69              ...
70              void dbfree(struct element *, int);
71              ...
72              if ((curtbl->key = malloc(strlen(key) + 1)) == NULL) {
73                  perror("malloc"); dbfree(tbl, count); return NULL;
74              }
75              strcpy(curtbl->key, key);
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78              if ((curtbl->data = malloc(strlen(data) + 1)) == NULL) {
79                  perror("malloc"); free(curtbl->key); dbfree(tbl, count); return NULL;
80              }
81              strcpy(curtbl->data, data);
82              ...
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APPLICATION USAGE

85       Character movement is performed differently  in  different  implementa‐
86       tions.  Thus, overlapping moves may yield surprises.
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88       This  issue  is  aligned  with the ISO C standard; this does not affect
89       compatibility with XPG3 applications. Reliable error detection by  this
90       function was never guaranteed.
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RATIONALE

93       None.
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FUTURE DIRECTIONS

96       None.
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SEE ALSO

99       strncpy(),   the   Base  Definitions  volume  of  IEEE Std 1003.1-2001,
100       <string.h>
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103       Portions of this text are reprinted and reproduced in  electronic  form
104       from IEEE Std 1003.1, 2003 Edition, Standard for Information Technology
105       -- Portable Operating System Interface (POSIX),  The  Open  Group  Base
106       Specifications  Issue  6,  Copyright  (C) 2001-2003 by the Institute of
107       Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc and The Open  Group.  In  the
108       event of any discrepancy between this version and the original IEEE and
109       The Open Group Standard, the original IEEE and The Open Group  Standard
110       is  the  referee document. The original Standard can be obtained online
111       at http://www.opengroup.org/unix/online.html .
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115IEEE/The Open Group                  2003                           STRCPY(3P)
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