This document provides an overview of string handling in C programming. It discusses how strings are represented as character arrays and terminated with a null character. It describes declaring, initializing, and manipulating strings through built-in string functions like strlen(), strcpy(), strcmp(), strcat(), strlwr(), and strrev(). Examples are given to illustrate how each string function works and how to use them to process strings as complete entities.

1. String HandlingString Handling
inin
C ProgrammingC Programming
V.V. SubrahmanyamV.V. Subrahmanyam
SOCIS, IGNOUSOCIS, IGNOU
Date: 24-05-08Date: 24-05-08
Time: 12-00 to 12-45Time: 12-00 to 12-45

2. IntroductionIntroduction
 String can be represented as aString can be represented as a
single-dimensional charactersingle-dimensional character
type array.type array.
 C language does not provide theC language does not provide the
intrinsic string types.intrinsic string types.
 Some problems require that theSome problems require that the
characters within a string becharacters within a string be
processed individually.processed individually.

3. Contd…Contd…
 However, there are manyHowever, there are many
problems which require thatproblems which require that
strings be processed as completestrings be processed as complete
entities. Such problems can beentities. Such problems can be
manipulated considerablymanipulated considerably
through the use of special stringthrough the use of special string
oriented library functions.oriented library functions.
 The string functions operate onThe string functions operate on
null-terminated arrays ofnull-terminated arrays of
characters and require thecharacters and require the
header <string.h>.header <string.h>.

4. Characteristic Features of StringsCharacteristic Features of Strings
 Strings in C are group ofStrings in C are group of
characters, digits, and symbolscharacters, digits, and symbols
enclosed in quotation marks orenclosed in quotation marks or
simply we can say the string issimply we can say the string is
declared as a “character array”.declared as a “character array”.
 The end of the string is markedThe end of the string is marked
with a special character, the ‘0’with a special character, the ‘0’
((Null character)Null character), which has the, which has the
decimal value 0.decimal value 0.

5. Contd…Contd…
 There is a difference between aThere is a difference between a
charactercharacter stored in memory andstored in memory and
aa single character stringsingle character string storedstored
in a memory.in a memory.
 The character requires only oneThe character requires only one
byte whereas the singlebyte whereas the single
character string requires twocharacter string requires two
bytes (one byte for the characterbytes (one byte for the character
and other byte for the delimiter).and other byte for the delimiter).

6. Declaration of a StringDeclaration of a String
The syntax is:The syntax is:
char string-name[size];char string-name[size];
Examples:Examples:
char name[20];char name[20];
char address[25];char address[25];
char city[15];char city[15];

7. Initialization of StringsInitialization of Strings
char name[ 8] = {‘P’, ‘R’, ‘O’, ‘G’, ‘R’, ‘A’, ‘M’, 0’};char name[ 8] = {‘P’, ‘R’, ‘O’, ‘G’, ‘R’, ‘A’, ‘M’, 0’};
P R O G R A M 0
1001 1002 1005 1006 10071003 1004 1008

8. Array of StringsArray of Strings
 Array of strings are multipleArray of strings are multiple
strings, stored in the form ofstrings, stored in the form of
table. Declaring array of stringstable. Declaring array of strings
is same as strings, except it willis same as strings, except it will
have additional dimension tohave additional dimension to
store the number of strings.store the number of strings.
Syntax is as follows:Syntax is as follows:
char array-name[size][size];char array-name[size][size];

9. IllustrationIllustration
char names [3][10] = {“Rahul”, “Phani”, “Raj”};char names [3][10] = {“Rahul”, “Phani”, “Raj”};
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
R a h u l 0
P h a n i 00
R a j k u m a r 00

10. Sample ProgramSample Program
/* Program that initializes 3 names in an array of/* Program that initializes 3 names in an array of
strings and display them on to monitor.*/strings and display them on to monitor.*/
#include<stdio.h>#include<stdio.h>
#include<string.h>#include<string.h>
main()main()
{{
int n;int n;
char names[3][10] = {“Alex”, “Phillip”,char names[3][10] = {“Alex”, “Phillip”,
“Collins” };“Collins” };
for(n=0; n<3; n++)for(n=0; n<3; n++)
printf(“%sn”,names[n]);printf(“%sn”,names[n]);
}}

11. Built-in String FunctionsBuilt-in String Functions
Strlen FunctionStrlen Function
TheThe strlenstrlen function returns thefunction returns the
length of a string. It takes the stringlength of a string. It takes the string
name as argument. The syntax is asname as argument. The syntax is as
follows:follows:
n = strlen (str);n = strlen (str);

12. /* Program to illustrate the/* Program to illustrate the strlenstrlen function*/function*/
#include <stdio.h>#include <stdio.h>
#include <string.h>#include <string.h>
main()main()
{{
char name[80];char name[80];
int length;int length;
printf(“Enter your name: ”);printf(“Enter your name: ”);
gets(name);gets(name);
length = strlen(name);length = strlen(name);
printf(“Your name has %dprintf(“Your name has %d
charactersn”,length);charactersn”,length);
}}

13. Strcpy FunctionStrcpy Function
In C, you cannot simply assign oneIn C, you cannot simply assign one
character array to another. You havecharacter array to another. You have
to copy element by element. Theto copy element by element. The
strcpystrcpy function is used to copy onefunction is used to copy one
string to another.string to another.
The syntax is as follows:The syntax is as follows:
strcpy(str1, str2);strcpy(str1, str2);

14. /* Program to illustrate strcpy function*//* Program to illustrate strcpy function*/
#include <stdio.h>#include <stdio.h>
#include <string.h>#include <string.h>
main()main()
{{
char first[80], second[80];char first[80], second[80];
printf(“Enter a string: ”);printf(“Enter a string: ”);
gets(first);gets(first);
strcpy(second, first);strcpy(second, first);
printf(“n First string is : %s, and secondprintf(“n First string is : %s, and second
string is: %sn”, first,string is: %sn”, first,
second);second);
}}

15. Strcmp FunctionStrcmp Function
 TheThe strcmpstrcmp function compares twofunction compares two
strings, character by character andstrings, character by character and
stops comparison when there is astops comparison when there is a
difference in the ASCII value or thedifference in the ASCII value or the
end of any one string and returnsend of any one string and returns
ASCII difference of the charactersASCII difference of the characters
that is integer.that is integer.
 If the return valueIf the return value zerozero means themeans the
two strings are equal, a negativetwo strings are equal, a negative
value means that first is less thanvalue means that first is less than
second, and a positive value meanssecond, and a positive value means
first is greater than the second.first is greater than the second.

16. The syntax is:The syntax is:
n = strcmp(str1, str2);n = strcmp(str1, str2);

17. /* The following program uses the strcmp functions *//* The following program uses the strcmp functions */
#include <stdio.h>#include <stdio.h>
#include <string.h>#include <string.h>
main()main()
{{
char first[80], second[80];char first[80], second[80];
int value;int value;
printf(“Enter a string: ”);printf(“Enter a string: ”);
gets(first);gets(first);
printf(“Enter another string: ”);printf(“Enter another string: ”);
gets(second);gets(second);
value = strcmp(first,second);value = strcmp(first,second);
if(value == 0)if(value == 0)
puts(“The two strings are equaln”);puts(“The two strings are equaln”);
else if(value < 0)else if(value < 0)
puts(“The first string is smaller n”);puts(“The first string is smaller n”);
else if(value > 0)else if(value > 0)
puts(“the first string is biggern”);puts(“the first string is biggern”);
}}

18. Strcat FunctionStrcat Function
The strcat function is used to joinThe strcat function is used to join
one string to another. It takesone string to another. It takes
two strings as arguments; thetwo strings as arguments; the
characters of the second stringcharacters of the second string
will be appended to the firstwill be appended to the first
string. The syntax is:string. The syntax is:
strcat(str1, str2);strcat(str1, str2);

19. /* Program for string concatenation*//* Program for string concatenation*/
#include <stdio.h>#include <stdio.h>
#include <string.h>#include <string.h>
main()main()
{{
char first[80], second[80];char first[80], second[80];
printf(“Enter a string:”);printf(“Enter a string:”);
gets(first);gets(first);
printf(“Enter another string: ”);printf(“Enter another string: ”);
gets(second);gets(second);
strcat(first, second);strcat(first, second);
printf(“nThe two strings joined together:printf(“nThe two strings joined together:
%sn”, first);%sn”, first);
}}

20. Strlwr FunctionStrlwr Function
TheThe strlwrstrlwr function converts upperfunction converts upper
case characters of string to lowercase characters of string to lower
case characters.case characters.
The syntax is:The syntax is:
strlwr(str1);strlwr(str1);

21. /* Program that converts input string to/* Program that converts input string to
lower case characters */lower case characters */
#include <stdio.h>#include <stdio.h>
#include <string.h>#include <string.h>
main()main()
{{
char first[80];char first[80];
printf("Enter a string: ");printf("Enter a string: ");
gets(first);gets(first);
printf("Lower case of the string is %s”,printf("Lower case of the string is %s”,
strlwr(first));strlwr(first));
}}

22. Strrev FunctionStrrev Function
TheThe strrevstrrev funtion reverses thefuntion reverses the
given string.given string.
The syntax is:The syntax is:
strrev(str);strrev(str);

23. /* Program to reverse a given string *//* Program to reverse a given string */
#include <stdio.h>#include <stdio.h>
#include <string.h>#include <string.h>
main()main()
{{
char first[80];char first[80];
printf(“Enter a string:”);printf(“Enter a string:”);
gets(first);gets(first);
printf(“Reverse of the given string is :printf(“Reverse of the given string is :
%s ”,%s ”,
strrev(first));strrev(first));
}}

24. Strspn FunctionStrspn Function
TheThe strspnstrspn function returns thefunction returns the
position of the string, where firstposition of the string, where first
string mismatches with secondstring mismatches with second
string.string.
The syntax is:The syntax is:
n = strspn(first, second);n = strspn(first, second);

25. #include <stdio.h>#include <stdio.h>
#include <string.h>#include <string.h>
main()main()
{{
char first[80], second[80];char first[80], second[80];
printf("Enter first string: “);printf("Enter first string: “);
gets(first);gets(first);
printf(“n Enter second string: “);printf(“n Enter second string: “);
gets(second);gets(second);
printf(“n After %d characters there is noprintf(“n After %d characters there is no
match”,strspn(first, second));match”,strspn(first, second));
}}
OUTPUTOUTPUT
Enter first string: ALEXANDEREnter first string: ALEXANDER
Enter second string: ALEXSMITHEnter second string: ALEXSMITH
After 4 characters there is no matchAfter 4 characters there is no match

26. strncpy functionstrncpy function
TheThe strncpystrncpy function same asfunction same as strcpystrcpy. It. It
copies characters of one string to anothercopies characters of one string to another
string up to the specified length. Thestring up to the specified length. The
syntax is:syntax is:
strncpy(str1, str2, 10);strncpy(str1, str2, 10);
stricmp functionstricmp function
TheThe stricmpstricmp function is same asfunction is same as strcmpstrcmp,,
except it compares two strings ignoringexcept it compares two strings ignoring
the case (lower and upper case). Thethe case (lower and upper case). The
syntax is:syntax is:
n = stricmp(str1, str2);n = stricmp(str1, str2);

27. strncmp functionstrncmp function
TheThe strncmpstrncmp function is same asfunction is same as strcmpstrcmp,,
except it compares two strings up to aexcept it compares two strings up to a
specified length. The syntax is:specified length. The syntax is:
n = strncmp(str1, str2, 10);n = strncmp(str1, str2, 10);
strchr functionstrchr function
TheThe strchrstrchr funtion takes two argumentsfuntion takes two arguments
(the string and the character whose(the string and the character whose
address is to be specified) and returns theaddress is to be specified) and returns the
address of first occurrence of the characteraddress of first occurrence of the character
in the given string. The syntax is:in the given string. The syntax is:
cp = strchr (str, c);cp = strchr (str, c);

28. strset functionstrset function
TheThe strsetstrset funtion replaces the string with thefuntion replaces the string with the
given charactergiven character.. It takes two arguments theIt takes two arguments the
string and the character. The syntax is:string and the character. The syntax is:
strset (first, ch);strset (first, ch);
where stringwhere string firstfirst will be replaced by characterwill be replaced by character chch..
strncat functionstrncat function
The strncat function is the same asThe strncat function is the same as strcatstrcat, except, except
that it appends upto specified length. The syntaxthat it appends upto specified length. The syntax
is:is:
strncat(str1, str2,10);strncat(str1, str2,10);
where 10 characters of the str2 string is addedwhere 10 characters of the str2 string is added
into str1 string.into str1 string.

29. strupr functionstrupr function
The struprThe strupr functionfunction converts lower caseconverts lower case
characters of the string to upper casecharacters of the string to upper case
characters. The syntax is:characters. The syntax is:
strupr(str1);strupr(str1);
strstr functionstrstr function
TheThe strstrstrstr function takes two argumentsfunction takes two arguments
address of the string and second string asaddress of the string and second string as
inputs. And returns the address frominputs. And returns the address from
where the second string starts in the firstwhere the second string starts in the first
string. The syntax is:string. The syntax is:
cp = strstr (first, second);cp = strstr (first, second);
wherewhere firstfirst and sand secondecond are two strings,are two strings,
cpcp is character pointer.is character pointer.