Podcast
Questions and Answers
What happens when a null source or destination buffer is passed to strcpy?
What happens when a null source or destination buffer is passed to strcpy?
What is one of the main issues with the strcpy function?
What is one of the main issues with the strcpy function?
Which of the following functions is considered safer than strcpy?
Which of the following functions is considered safer than strcpy?
What happens if the destination buffer size is insufficient when using strcpy?
What happens if the destination buffer size is insufficient when using strcpy?
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What is the correct prototype of the strncpy function?
What is the correct prototype of the strncpy function?
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Study Notes
Unsafe String Handling in C/C++
- Functions like
strcpy
,sprintf
, andgets
are considered unsafe for string handling in C/C++. -
strcpy
prototype:char *strcpy (char *strDest, const char *strSource);
- Null pointers in either the source or destination buffer will raise an exception.
- Undefined behavior occurs if strings are not null-terminated.
- No safeguard exists to check if the destination buffer is large enough to hold the source string.
Safer String Functions
- Safer alternatives allow specification of the number of bytes or characters to be handled.
- Examples of safer functions include
strncpy
,_snprintf
, andfgets
. -
strncpy
prototype:char *strncpy (char *strDest, const char *strSource, size_t count);
-
strncpy
provides more control by allowing the programmer to define how many characters to copy, reducing the risk of buffer overflows.
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Description
This quiz covers the unsafe string handling functions in C/C++, such as strcpy and sprintf. You'll learn about the potential pitfalls associated with these functions and explore safer alternatives like strncpy and fgets. Test your understanding of how to manage strings safely in programming.