how sprintf works ?

[dunxton]

Hello my code goes like this:

char* pszLogStr = NULL;
pszLogStr = (char *)calloc(100,sizeof(char));
	if (pszLogStr == NULL)
		{
		return(1);
		}
sprintf(pszLogStr,"Looks might be deceiving : %d",007);
free(pszLogStr);

Please let me know if sprintf changes the memory address of pszLogStr or only does a string copy on it so that I can free it later.

Thanks.

[matsp]

It just does a (complicated) string copy - it doesn't change the address of your point [in fact, it can not do that, since you are passing a pointer, not a pointer to pointer].

On a side-note: I personally wouldn't use calloc (or other malloc-related functions) for a buffer of 100 bytes - just use a local string variable. The overhead of malloc is not reflected in the memory saving you make (malloc itself will use up at least 16 bytes in the first place).

--
Mats

[dunxton]

Thanks. But I have another question.

Suppose I use the local string as you suggested, will the memory for that string be freed once I get out of the function? I know that the variable is no longer accessible if I get out of the function but is the memory for the local variables freed too ?

As far as im aware there is no garbage collection in C. So how will this help?

Also is it correct that Calloc looks for contiguous memory location to allocate whereas Malloc does not look for contiguous memory location?

[matsp]

The memory used by the local array (string) will be freed when you leave the function, yes. If that's not what you want, then you have to allocate memory (or pass a pointer in from a lower level call) to store the string in [e.g. you want to return a string from a function]. If you allocate memory, then remember to free it when it's done with.

--
Mats