What does this prototype mean?

[aspand]

Hi,
I am learning strings..and I came across this prototype for the strncpy function..can someone please explain..

char *strncpy(char *to_string, const char *from_string, int size);

I understand most of it..except..why is strncpy of type pointer to a character?? and what does const (??) char*from_string mean??
Why is it a constant? Is it cos it doesn't change? would I type in const??
Thanks in advance
A

[novacain]

It means it returns a pointer to a string.

[stautze]

>char *strncpy(char *to_string, const char *from_string, int size);

You are just copying at most size characters from from_string to to_string. If size is bigger than the string, you get a '/0' as the last character in yout to_string.

The return value is pointer to the first character in the to_string.

The const declaration means that the string from_string is not changed by this particular function. Note that this is different than using it when declaring a variable.


But you don't have to take my word for it, look in any C book. I use K&R as my bible.

[ALLRIGHT]

/*
i will try to explain your query this way;
char *strcpy(char *to_string, const char *from_string);
in above line is the declaration of the function strcpy;
normally fuctions are used to return value of the type they are declared
in this case char is its type.which means that it can only return character
or char type of values.
putting * in front of strcpy has just made it possible for the function
to return the address of the char(character)type variables or const;which means this function will not return any value but only the value which will be an address of some character type variable;any value going out from this function will be comprehended as the address of some character variable;which
makes one more thing important that the value returned from this
function could only be recieved by an char pointer for example
char *resultant_string;
char *put_into_this;
char *this_string;
resultant_string=(char *)malloc(sizeof(this_string));
resultant_string=strcpy(put_into_this,this_string) ;
ofcourse others would also be able to recieve the value returned by
this function but through typecasting;
a little more detail to it
(a).int num;//this means num is a integer type variable which in turn means it can hold only integer type values like 1,2,3,4
but it cannot hold a,b,c,d;now if it is written like this
(b)int *num;//this would mean yes still num is an integer variable but now its purpose is diffrent and that purpose is to hold the address of integer type variables;now any integer value passed to it would be comprehended by the compiler as the address of some integer variable in the memory;
suppose you write num=1; in first case that is(a)
it would mean integer value 1;
now you write num=1;in second case that is(b)
it would mean memory location 1;
in either case we can say num is holding a value 1;
but only the diffrence is in one case it is simple 1;
and in other case it is memory location numbered 1;
same logic is applied to functions like char *strcpy(char *to_string, const char *from_string);
which means whatever value would be held by char *strcpy in it`s return argument would be some memory location and that memory location will be for
some character variable unless ofcourse typecasted;
now what is CONST doing here;
CONST has just made it cumpulsary for the function that no
statement or argument in side the function should dare change or manipulate
the value of *from_string;it is as simple as that if some statement like
from_string=scr1 is written or from_string='a' any statement which is trying to
change the original value of scr it would result in an error;
ofcourse there are ways to do this but they are through pointers not
otherwise.
i think this would do for explaning your problem.
if i am wrong somewhere please dont mind i am just a student
i myself need the help of your esteemed self.

*/