C programming & data structure [character strings & string functions]

CProgramming Language
&
Data Structure
Prepared by: Mo’meN M. Ali
E-mail: momen.1993@live.com

References
• www.stackoverflow.com
• C Primer Plus 6th Edition
• Let Us C 5th Edition
• The C Programming Language 2nd Edition
• C Modern Approach 2nd Edition
• Data Structures and Algorithm Analysis in C 2nd Edition
C Programming Language
Mo’meN M. Ali

Review Programs are uploaded to this Git repo
https://github.com/Mo2meN-
Ali/x86/tree/master/Programming%20Course/2-Strings
Mo’meN M. Ali

Topics
• Arrays & Pointers.
• Character String & String Functions.
• Storage Classes, Linkage & Memory Management.
• File Input/Output.
• Structures & Other Data Formats.
• Bit Fiddling.
• The C Preprocessor & The C Library.
• Algorithm Analysis & ADT.
• Stacks & Queues.
• Trees.
Mo’meN M. Ali

Today You Will Learn About:
• Functions:
gets(), gets_s(), fgets(), puts(), fputs(), strcat(), strncat(), strcmp(),
strncmp(), strcpy(), strncpy(), sprintf(), strchr().
• Creating and using strings.
• Using several string and character functions from the C library and
creating your own string functions.
• Using command-line arguments.
Mo’meN M. Ali

Mo’meN M. Ali
// strings1.c
#include <stdio.h>
#define MSG "I am a symbolic string constant."
#define MAXLENGTH 81
int main(void)
{
char words[MAXLENGTH] = "I am a string in an array.";
const char * pt1 = "Something is pointing at me.";
puts("Here are some strings:");
puts(MSG);
puts(words);
puts(pt1);
words[8] = 'p';
puts(words);
return 0;
}

Output
Here are some strings:
I am an old-fashioned symbolic string constant.
I am a string in an array.
Something is pointing at me.
I am a spring in an array.
Mo’meN M. Ali
• The puts() function, like printf(), belongs to the stdio.h family of input/output
functions.
• It only displays strings, and, unlike printf(), it automatically appends a newline to
the string it displays.
Note:

Character string constants (string literals)
• A string constant, also termed a string literal, is anything enclosed in double
quotation marks.
• The enclosed characters, plus a terminating 0 character automatically provided
by the compiler, are stored in memory as a character string.
• The principal ways are using string constants, using char arrays, and using char
pointers. A program should make sure there is a place to store a string.
• Character string constants are placed in the static storage class, which means
that if you use a string constant in a function, the string is stored just once and
lasts for the duration of the program, even if the function is called several times.
The entire quoted phrase acts as a pointer to where the string is stored. This
action is analogous to the name of an array acting as a pointer to the array’s
location.
Mo’meN M. Ali

String Examples
• char greeting[50] = "Hello, and" " how are" " you" " today!";
is equivalent to this:
char greeting[50] = "Hello, and how are you today!";
• printf(""Run, Spot, run!" exclaimed Dick.n");
This produces the following output:
"Run, Spot, run!" exclaimed Dick.
Mo’meN M. Ali

Mo’meN M. Ali
/* strptr.c -- strings as pointers */
#include <stdio.h>
int main(void)
{
printf("%s, %p, %cn", "We", "are", *"space farers");
return 0;
}
1. The %s format should print the string We.
2. The %p format produces an address. So if the phrase "are" is an address,
then %p should print the address of the first character in the string. (Pre-ANSI
implementations might have to use %u or %lu instead of %p).
3. *"space farers" should produce the value to which the address points,
which should be the first character of the string "space farers“.

Output
We, 0x100000f61, s
Mo’meN M. Ali

Array and pointer differences
• What’s The differences between initializing a character array to hold a string and
initializing a pointer to point to a string. (By "pointing to a string," we really mean pointing
to the first character of a string.) ?
char heart[] = "I love Tillie!";
char *head = "I love Millie!";
• The chief difference is that the array name heart is a constant, but the pointer head is a
variable. What practical difference does this make?
Mo’meN M. Ali

Mo’meN M. Ali
#define MSG "I'm special."
#include <stdio.h>
int main(void)
{
char ar[] = MSG;
const char *pt = MSG;
printf("address of "I'm special": %p n", "I'm special");
printf(" address ar: %pn", ar);
printf(" address pt: %pn", pt);
printf(" address of MSG: %pn", MSG);
printf("address of "I'm special": %p n", "I'm special");
return 0;
}

Output
address of "I'm special": 0x100000f0c
address ar: 0x7fff5fbff8c7
address pt: 0x100000ee0
address of MSG: 0x100000ee0
address of "I'm special": 0x100000f0c
Mo’meN M. Ali

Arrays of character strings
const char *mytal[LIM] = {
"Adding numbers swiftly",
"Multiplying accurately", "Stashing data",
"Following instructions to the letter",
"Understanding the C language“
};
• Because LIM is 5, you can say that mytal is an array of five pointers-to-char. That is,
mytal is a one-dimensional array, and each element in the array holds the address of a
char. The first pointer is mytal[0], and it points to the first character of the first string.
The second pointer is mytal[1], and it points to the beginning of the second string. In
general, each pointer points to the first character of the corresponding string
• Review Program: Array as Pointers
Mo’meN M. Ali

Rectangular versus ragged array
Mo’meN M. Ali

The unfortunate gets() function
• It’s a simple function, easy to use:
1. It reads an entire line up through the newline character.
2. Discards the newline character, stores the remaining characters.
3. Adding a null character to create a C string.
• The problem is that gets() doesn’t check to see if the input line actually fits into
the array, also, remember C naturally does not check for boundaries!!
Mo’meN M. Ali

Mo’meN M. Ali
/* getsputs.c -- using gets() and puts() */
#include <stdio.h>
#define STLEN 81
int main(void)
{
char words[STLEN];
puts("Enter a string, please.");
gets(words);
printf("Your string twice:n");
printf("%sn", words);
puts(words);
puts("Done.");
return 0;
}

Output
Enter a string, please.
I want to learn about string theory!
Your string twice:
Done.
Mo’meN M. Ali

puts() function
• It take a string argument then prints it with adding a new line.
• Which make it a natural company for the gets() function which discards the new
line from input string.
Mo’meN M. Ali

The fgets() function (and fputs() )
• The fgets() function meets the possible overflow problem by taking a second
argument that limits the number of characters to be read. This function is
designed for file input, which makes it a little more awkward to use. Here is how
fgets() differs from gets() :
1. It takes a second argument indicating the maximum number of characters
to read. If this argument has the value n , fgets() reads up to n-1 characters
or through the newline character, whichever comes first.
2. If fgets() reads the newline, it stores it in the string, unlike gets(), which
discards it.
3. It takes a third argument indicating which file to read. To read from the
keyboard, use stdin (for standard input ) as the argument; this identifier is
defined in stdio.h.
Mo’meN M. Ali

fputs() function
• It take a string argument then prints it without adding a new line.
• Which make it a natural company for the fgets() function which discards the new
line from input string.
Mo’meN M. Ali

Mo’meN M. Ali
#include <stdio.h>
#define STLEN 14
int main(void)
{
char words[STLEN];
puts("Enter a string, please.");
fgets(words, STLEN, stdin);
printf("Your string twice (puts(), then fputs()):n");
puts(words);
fputs(words, stdout);
puts("Enter another string, please.");
fgets(words, STLEN, stdin);
printf("Your string twice (puts(), then fputs()):n");
puts(words);
fputs(words, stdout);
puts("Done.");
return 0;
}

Output
Enter a string, please.
apple pie
Your string twice (puts(), then fputs()):
apple pie
apple pie
Enter another string, please.
strawberry shortcake
Your string twice (puts(), then fputs()):
strawberry sh
strawberry shDone.
Review Program: fgets
Mo’meN M. Ali

The gets_s() function
• The three main differences from fgets() are these:
1. gets_s() just reads from the standard input, so it doesn’t need a third argument.
2. If gets_s() does read a newline; it discards it rather than storing it.
3. If gets_s() reads the maximum number of characters and fails to read a
newline, it takes several steps. It sets the first character of the
destination array to the null character.It reads and discards subsequent
input until a newline or end-of-file is encountered. It returns the null
pointer. It invokes an implementation-dependent “handler” function (or
else one you’ve selected), which may cause the program to exit or abort.
Mo’meN M. Ali

The s_gets() function
Mo’meN M. Ali
char *s_gets(char * st, int n)
{
char * ret_val;
int i = 0;
ret_val = fgets(st, n, stdin);
if (ret_val) // i.e., ret_val != NULL
{
while (st[i] != 'n' && st[i] != '0')
i++;
if (st[i] == 'n')
st[i] = '0';
else // must have words[i] == '0'
while (getchar() != 'n')
continue;
}
return ret_val;
}

The scanf() function
• The chief difference between scanf() and gets() lies in how they decide when they have reached
the end of the string:
scanf() is more of a "get word" than a "get string" function. The gets()
function, as you've seen, takes in all the characters up to the first newline. The scanf()
function has two choices for terminating input. For either choice, the string starts at the
first non-whitespace character encountered. If you use the %s format, the string runs up
to (but not including) the next whitespace character (blank, tab, or newline). If you
specify a field width, as in %10s, the scanf() collects up to 10 characters or up to the first
whitespace character, whichever comes first.
Mo’meN M. Ali

Mo’meN M. Ali
/* scan_str.c -- using scanf() */
#include <stdio.h>
int main(void)
{
char name1[11], name2[11];
int count;
printf("Please enter 2 names.n");
count = scanf("%5s %10s",name1, name2);
printf("I read the %d names %s and %s.n",
count, name1, name2);
return 0;
}

Output
Please enter 2 names.
Jesse Jukes
I read the 2 names Jesse and Jukes.
Liza Applebottham
I read the 2 names Liza and Applebotth.
Portensia Callowit
I read the 2 names Porte and nsia.
Mo’meN M. Ali

Exercise 2.0
30 Minutes
MO’MEN M. ALI

The Do-it-Yourself Option
• Surprisingly enough, C offers a way to build your own string functions the
way you want.
• Using getchar(), putchar() and string.h functions.
Mo’meN M. Ali

Mo’meN M. Ali
/* put1.c -- prints a string without adding n */
#include <stdio.h>
void put1(const char *string) /* string not altered */
{
while (*string != '0')
putchar(*string++);
}
• use const char *string rather than const char string[] as the
formal argument? Technically, the two are equivalent, so either form will work.
One reason to use bracket notation is to remind the user that the function
processes an array. With strings, however, the actual argument can be the
name of an array, a quoted string, or a variable that has been declared as type
char *. Using const char *string reminds you that the actual argument
isn’t necessarily an array.
Note

Mo’meN M. Ali
/* put2.c -- prints a string and counts characters */
#include <stdio.h>
int put2(const char * string)
{
int count = 0;
while (*string) /* common idiom */
{
putchar(*string++);
count++;
}
putchar('n'); /* newline not counted */
return(count);
}
Review Program: Put1_Put2

String library’s functions
• he C library supplies several string-handling functions; ANSI C uses the string.h
header file to provide the prototypes. We'll look at some of the most useful and
common ones: strlen(), strcat(), strncat(), strcmp(), strncmp(), strcpy(), and
strncpy(). We'll also examine sprintf(), supported by the stdio.h header file.
Mo’meN M. Ali

The strlen() function
The strlen() function, finds the length of a string. it adds 1 to the combined lengths to
allow space for the null character.
/* fit.c –– procrustean function */
void fit(char * string, unsigned int size)
{
if (strlen(string) > size)
*(string + size) = '0';
}
• This function does change the string, so the function header doesn't use const in
declaring the formal parameter string.
• Review Program: TestFit
Mo’meN M. Ali

The strcat() function
• The strcat() (for string concatenation) function takes two strings for arguments. A
copy of the second string is tacked onto the end of the first, and this combined
version becomes the new first string. The second string is not altered. It returns the
value of its first argument.
• Review Program: StringConcatenation
Mo’meN M. Ali

The strncat() function
• strncat() differs from strcat() in only one aspect which that, it takes a second
argument indicating the maximum number of characters to add.
• Review Program: StringConcatenation with checking
Mo’meN M. Ali

The strcmp() function
• The strcmp() function, Compares two string. It returns a negative number if the first
string precedes the second alphabetically and that it returns a positive number if the
order is the other way and it returns zero if the two strings are identical.
Mo’meN M. Ali
Note:
The strcmp() function is for comparing strings , not characters . So you can use
arguments such as "apples" and "A" , but you cannot use character arguments, such as
'A‘.
• Review Program: String Comparison

The strncmp() function
• The strncmp() function is different from strcmp() in one manner which that it
compares the strings until they differ or until it has compared a number of
characters specified by a third argument.
Mo’meN M. Ali

The strcpy() function
• The strncpy() function copies the second argument string into the first argument string.
1. The first argument need not point to the beginning of an array; this lets you copy just
part of an array.
2. It returns the value of its first argument.
3. It does no check to see if the first argument has the space or not which may
cause overflow problems.
Mo’meN M. Ali
The strncpy() function
• The strncpy() function only difference that it copies the n character of the second
argument string into the first argument string.
• Review Program: String Copy

The sprintf() function
• The sprintf() function is declared in stdio.h instead of string.h. It works like printf(),
but it writes to a string instead of writing to a display. Therefore, it provides a way to
combine several elements into a single string. The first argument to sprintf() is the
address of the target string. The remaining arguments are the same as for printf()—
a conversion specification string followed by a list of items to be written
Mo’meN M. Ali
• Review Program: form a string

Other String Functions
MO’MEN M. ALI
Search Yourself

Exercise 2.1
30 Minutes
MO’MEN M. ALI

Selection Sort Algorithm
Sorts a list of a strings alphabetically
Mo’meN M. Ali
• Review Program: Sorting String

Command-Line Arguments
• The command line is the line you type to run your program in a command-line
environment.
• Command-Line Programs takes input into a special Argument called *argv[]
which is Array of pointers.
• All input to the program are saved as strings in *argv[] one by one.
• argv[0] always contains the name of the program. So user input is to be
found strating from argv[1].
• argc contains the number of inputs that has been passed to the program plus
the program name.
Mo’meN M. Ali
• Review Program: form a string

Mo’meN M. Ali
/* repeat.c -- main() with arguments */
#include <stdio.h>
int main(int argc, char *argv[])
{
int count;
printf("The command line has %d arguments:n", argc - 1);
for (count = 1; count < argc; count++)
printf("%d: %sn", count, argv[count]);
printf("n");
return 0;
}

Output
$ repeat Resistance is futile
The command line has 3 arguments:
1: Resistance
2: is
3: futile
Mo’meN M. Ali

Mo’meN M. Ali
/* hello.c -- converts command-line argument to number */
#include <stdio.h>
#include <stdlib.h>
int main(int argc, char *argv[])
{
int i, times;
if (argc < 2 || (times = atoi(argv[1])) < 1)
printf("Usage: %s positive-numbern", argv[0]);
else
for (i = 0; i < times; i++)
puts("Hello, good looking!");
return 0;
}

Output
$ hello 3
Hello, good looking!
Mo’meN M. Ali

THANK YOUSEE YOU SOON
Mo’meN M. Ali

C programming & data structure [character strings & string functions]

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