C Strings

Introduction

In C programming language, a string is an array of characters that is terminated with a null character '\0'. The null character is used to mark the end of the string.

Syntax

char str_name[size] = "string";

Example

#include <stdio.h>
int main() {
  char greeting[6] = {'H', 'e', 'l', 'l', 'o', '\0'};
  printf("Greeting message: %s\n", greeting);
  return 0;
}

Output

Greeting message: Hello

Explanation

The above program defines a string using the character array variable greeting. The '\0' (null) character is used to terminate the string. The printf() function is used to display the greeting message.

Use

Strings can be used for a variety of purposes, including printing messages to the console, working with file systems, creating user interfaces, and more.

Important Points

• A string in C is an array of characters that is terminated by a null character '\0'.
• Strings can be defined as a character array with a null character at the end or assigned using the double quotes.
• The strlen() function can be used to find the length of a string.
• Strings can be concatenated using the strcat() function.
• The strcmp() function can be used to compare two strings.

Summary

C strings are an essential part of the C programming language and are used for a wide variety of tasks. Understanding the syntax and functionality of strings is critical for any C programmer. Additionally, familiarity with string functions such as strlen(), strcat(), and strcmp() can greatly enhance the efficiency of your code. With practice, mastery of these string functions can lead to cleaner, more efficient, and more powerful code.