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C string strncpy() function

❮ string Functions


Example

Copy part of the data from one string to another:

char str1[] = "Hello World!";
char str2[] = "Write code!";
strncpy(str2, str1, 6);
printf("%s\n", str1);
printf("%s\n", str2);
Try it Yourself »

Definition and Usage

The strncpy() function copies the first n characters from one string into the memory of another string.

This does not add a null terminating character to the copied data, so make sure that the destination string has a null terminating character somewhere after the copied data.

The strncpy() function is defined in the <string.h> header file.

Note: Make sure that the destination string has enough space for the data or it may start writing into memory that belongs to other variables.


Syntax

strncpy(char * destination, char * source, size_t n);

The size_t data type is a positive integer.

Parameter Values

Parameter Description
destination Required. A pointer to the string to be copied to.
source Required. A pointer to the string being copied.
n Required. The number of characters to be copied.

Technical Details

Returns: A char type pointer to the destination string.

❮ string Functions


Related Pages

C Strings Tutorial

C String Functions Tutorial


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