Create a string in C with a format specifier

Question

Is there a standard C function that allows you to build strings using format specifiers?

Right now I'm doing this:

char buffer[256]; char *name = "Fred"; strcpy(buffer, "Hello, "); strcat(buffer, name); strcat(buffer, ". How are you today?\n");

Is there a way to add the message to buffer in one function?

Something like this:

makestr(buffer, "Hello, %s. How are you today?\n", name);

Firas Assaad · Accepted Answer · 2010-12-05 08:09:14Z

8

sprintf

Be careful when using it because sprintf is not a safe function and can suffer from buffer overflows.

answered Dec 5, 2010 at 8:09

Firas Assaad

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2 Comments

paxdiablo Over a year ago

I would upvote this answer were it not for the ridiculous contention that sprintf is not safe. It's perfectly safe if you know what you're doing and people that don't know what they're doing should probably be using BASIC instead of C :-)

mouche Over a year ago

Do you recommend snprintf to avoid the risk of buffer overflow?

dreadwail · Accepted Answer · 2010-12-05 08:11:06Z

1

Would sprintf be helpful to you? Link: sprintf

answered Dec 5, 2010 at 8:11

dreadwail

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