Thread: Understanding String Functions

Hey everyone,

I'm trying to practice strings and I need you're help.
I tried to build a code by myself where i'm sorting my strings in lexicographic order but i had to peak at the solution .

I have a few questions to ask because i really need to master that subject.

so first here's the code:

Code:

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


int main()
{
    char names[100][50], temp[100][100];
    int num,i,j = 0;
    int k = 0;
    
    printf("Enter number of names: ");
    scanf("%d", &num);
    printf("Enter names:\n");
    
    for (i=0; i<num; i++)
    {
        scanf("%s", names[i]);
    }
    
    for (i=0; i<num; i++)
    {
        for (j=0; j<num-1; j++)
        {
            if (strcmp(names[j], names[j+1])>0)
            {
                strcpy(temp[k], names[j]);
                strcpy(names[j], names[j+1]);
                strcpy(names[j+1], temp[k]);
            }
        }
    }
    
    for (i=0; i<num; i++)
    {
        printf("%s", names[i]);
    }
    
}

So here are my questions:
1- on the for loops where i make my calculation of the strings. What does j represent?
Correct me if i'm wrong:
num = 3 (for example) and I'm inputting 'yann' so j[0] = yann, j[1] = ann j[2] = nn and j[3] = n ??

2- why on the second for loop i have to declare j<num-1?

3- can someone explain to me the if statement? what does strcmp(names[j], names[j+1]) mean? and why does it have to be >0??

4- please explain to me the rest of the if statement.

1. You should look up bubblesort.
2. Ditto.
3. You should look up strcmp.
4. Do you mean the statements that are in the "true" part of the if statement? They just swap two words. You should look up bubblesort.