Strings in C

Sakshi Dhameja 5 min read

12 Apr 2023

Intermediate

213 Views

Introduction

Do you want to learn how to use strings in C? Have you ever wondered what all the fuss is about using strings, or why they are important for programming? Strings are a basic data type that can be used in almost any programming language and anyone interested in computer science and software development needs to understand. In this article, we'll explore what strings are, how they work, and what you need to know when working with them in the C language. Read on - no matter if you're just getting started or an experienced developer - as there’s something new here for everyone!

What are strings in C

In C programming language, a string is a sequence of characters stored in an array of characters with a null character '\0' as the string terminator. A string can be represented using double quotes ("string") or single quotes ('c'). C strings are represented as an array of characters, where each character is stored in a consecutive memory location. The null character '\0' is used to mark the end of the string. C string functions such as strlen, strcpy, and strcmp are provided to manipulate strings in C.It is important to note that C strings have a fixed length, and if try to assign a value that is longer than the array size, it will result in a buffer overflow, which can lead to unpredictable program behavior or security vulnerabilities.

String Program in C

#include <stdio.h>
#include <string.h>

int main() {
    char str[100];
    int length;
    printf("Enter a string: ");
    scanf("%s", str);
    length = strlen(str);
    printf("Length of the string is: %d\n", length);
    return 0;
}

How to declare strings in C

There are two ways to declare a string in c language.

By char array
By string literal

Differences between string and array

A string is a sequence of characters. It is typically used to represent text or words in a program. In most programming languages, a string is a type of data that can be manipulated and processed using various string functions. A string is usually enclosed in quotation marks or double quotes.
An array is a collection of elements, which can be of any data type including characters, numbers, and objects. It is used to group together similar values or data items in a program. In most programming languages, an array is a data structure that allows to store multiple values under a single variable name. Arrays can be one-dimensional, two-dimensional, or multi-dimensional.
One key difference between strings and arrays is that a string is a single entity, whereas an array is a collection of individual elements. Another difference is that strings are typically used to represent text data, while arrays are used to store and manipulate multiple pieces of data. Additionally, strings usually have a fixed length, whereas arrays can be resized dynamically as elements are added or removed.

Traversing a string in C

Traversing the string is one of the most important aspects of any programming language. The developer may need to manipulate a very large text which can be done by traversing the text. Traversing a string is somewhat different from traversing an integer array. Users need to know the length of the array to traverse an integer array, whereas they may use the null character in the case of a string to identify the end of the string and terminate the loop.

There are two types of traversing in c, which are

By using the length of the string
By using a null character

String functions in C

In C programming language, several string functions can be used to manipulate strings. Here are some of the commonly used string functions in C:

strlen(): This function is used to find the length of a string. It takes a string as input and returns the number of characters in the string (excluding the null character).
strcpy(): This function is used to copy one string to another. It takes two arguments, the first argument is the destination string where the source string will be copied and the second argument is the source string.
strcat(): This function is used to concatenate two strings. It takes two arguments, the first argument is the destination string where the source string will be appended and the second argument is the source string.
strcmp(): This function is used to compare two strings. It takes two arguments, the first argument is the first string and the second argument is the second string. It returns an integer value that indicates the result of the comparison.
strchr(): This function is used to find the first occurrence of a character in a string. It takes two arguments, the first argument is the string and the second argument is the character to be searched. It returns a pointer to the first occurrence of the character in the string.

Summary

In summation, strings in C can be challenging for some but with a little understanding of their components, anyone can quickly become proficient. From learning the basics of fundamental string operations such as concatenation there’s much to explore and understand. With plenty of room for growth and mastery, a greater appreciation of C programming can be achieved by gaining knowledge of strings operations. Knowing the fundamentals pays off when using strings within your code as not only can it make things more efficient you also learn to appreciate more complex constructs too. So why not use this knowledge today, apply it to a project, and enjoy new possibilities? Strings in C is your gateway to more powerful programming.