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  4. What is wrong in this strcpy()?

What is wrong in this strcpy()?

Scheduled Pinned Locked Moved C / C++ / MFC
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  • M Malli_S

    If you're calling s_cpy() function with s, s1 (global variables i.e.

    char *s= "TEST";
    char *s1= NULL;

    ) the formal parameter s1 will hold NULL (invalid pointer) which makes strcpy() crash. The prototype for strcpy() is

    char *strcpy( char *strDestination, const char *strSource);

    Passing invalid pointer at any of the parameter to strcpy (or any string function taking char *) will crash the program.

    U Offline
    U Offline
    User 5495012
    wrote on last edited by
    #6

    Even when i change s1 to char *s1="TEMP"; strcpy(s1,p); // resulting in error.

    M 1 Reply Last reply
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    • U User 5495012

      What is wrong in this strcpy()? I tried this function call, no compile time errors, but results in error during runtime. What could be the problem in that function call? char *s= "TEST"; char *s1= NULL; char * s_cpy(char * s,char * s1) { char * p=(char*) malloc(strlen(s)); p=s; printf("%s\n",p); // prints TEST printf("%s\n",s1); // prints printf("%s\n",s); // prints TEST strcpy(s1,p); //error, test.exe has encountered a problem return s1; }

      S Offline
      S Offline
      SandipG
      wrote on last edited by
      #7

      One suggestion

      Member 5502879 wrote:

      char * p=(char*) malloc(strlen(s)); p=s;

      you allocating buffer and assigning some other pointer to p again. this will cause memory leak.

      Regards, Sandip.

      U 1 Reply Last reply
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      • U User 5495012

        Even when i change s1 to char *s1="TEMP"; strcpy(s1,p); // resulting in error.

        M Offline
        M Offline
        Malli_S
        wrote on last edited by
        #8

        char *s1 = "TEMP" defines the char pointer to constant "TEMP", of which you cann't change the value. which makes strcpy() fail.

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        • S SandipG

          One suggestion

          Member 5502879 wrote:

          char * p=(char*) malloc(strlen(s)); p=s;

          you allocating buffer and assigning some other pointer to p again. this will cause memory leak.

          Regards, Sandip.

          U Offline
          U Offline
          User 5495012
          wrote on last edited by
          #9

          Even if do not create 'p' and directly copy s to s1, strcpy(s1,s); im still getting the same error.

          R S 2 Replies Last reply
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          • U User 5495012

            Even if do not create 'p' and directly copy s to s1, strcpy(s1,s); im still getting the same error.

            R Offline
            R Offline
            Rajesh R Subramanian
            wrote on last edited by
            #10

            Try allocating memory to s1 before you copy stuff into it and then tell if it crashes. If it doesn't, well, guess why. :)

            Many are stubborn in pursuit of the path they have chosen, few in pursuit of the goal - Friedrich Nietzsche .·´¯`·->Rajesh<-·´¯`·. [Microsoft MVP - Visual C++]

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            • U User 5495012

              Even if do not create 'p' and directly copy s to s1, strcpy(s1,s); im still getting the same error.

              S Offline
              S Offline
              SandipG
              wrote on last edited by
              #11

              I did not answer you why it crashes.. others have already told you the reason. I just pointed the mistake.

              Regards, Sandip.

              1 Reply Last reply
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              • U User 5495012

                What is wrong in this strcpy()? I tried this function call, no compile time errors, but results in error during runtime. What could be the problem in that function call? char *s= "TEST"; char *s1= NULL; char * s_cpy(char * s,char * s1) { char * p=(char*) malloc(strlen(s)); p=s; printf("%s\n",p); // prints TEST printf("%s\n",s1); // prints printf("%s\n",s); // prints TEST strcpy(s1,p); //error, test.exe has encountered a problem return s1; }

                A Offline
                A Offline
                auralius manurung
                wrote on last edited by
                #12

                try allocate memory like this: char * s_cpy(char * s,char * s1) { char * p =(char*) malloc(strlen(s)+1); s1 = (char*) malloc(10); //use this!!!! p=s; printf("%s\n",p); // prints TEST printf("%s\n",s1); // prints printf("%s\n",s); // prints TEST strcpy(s1,p); //error, test.exe has encountered a problem return s1; } don forget to free them up later or you will encounter memory leak...

                CPalliniC 1 Reply Last reply
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                • A auralius manurung

                  try allocate memory like this: char * s_cpy(char * s,char * s1) { char * p =(char*) malloc(strlen(s)+1); s1 = (char*) malloc(10); //use this!!!! p=s; printf("%s\n",p); // prints TEST printf("%s\n",s1); // prints printf("%s\n",s); // prints TEST strcpy(s1,p); //error, test.exe has encountered a problem return s1; } don forget to free them up later or you will encounter memory leak...

                  CPalliniC Offline
                  CPalliniC Offline
                  CPallini
                  wrote on last edited by
                  #13

                  auralius wrote:

                  char * p =(char*) malloc(strlen(s)+1); s1 = (char*) malloc(10); //use this!!!! p=s;

                  And what's the point of doing the above? :)

                  If the Lord God Almighty had consulted me before embarking upon the Creation, I would have recommended something simpler. -- Alfonso the Wise, 13th Century King of Castile.
                  This is going on my arrogant assumptions. You may have a superb reason why I'm completely wrong. -- Iain Clarke
                  [My articles]

                  In testa che avete, signor di Ceprano?

                  A 1 Reply Last reply
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                  • U User 5495012

                    What is wrong in this strcpy()? I tried this function call, no compile time errors, but results in error during runtime. What could be the problem in that function call? char *s= "TEST"; char *s1= NULL; char * s_cpy(char * s,char * s1) { char * p=(char*) malloc(strlen(s)); p=s; printf("%s\n",p); // prints TEST printf("%s\n",s1); // prints printf("%s\n",s); // prints TEST strcpy(s1,p); //error, test.exe has encountered a problem return s1; }

                    D Offline
                    D Offline
                    David Crow
                    wrote on last edited by
                    #14

                    I see two issues.

                    Member 5502879 wrote:

                    char * p=(char*) malloc(strlen(s)); p=s;

                    You've reassigned p to some other address. This will cause problems if you go to free the address returned by malloc().

                    Member 5502879 wrote:

                    strcpy(s1,p); //error, test.exe has encountered a problem

                    Because s1 has not been allocated any memory. strcpy() is therefore dereferencing a null pointer.

                    "Love people and use things, not love things and use people." - Unknown

                    "The brick walls are there for a reason...to stop the people who don't want it badly enough." - Randy Pausch

                    1 Reply Last reply
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                    • U User 5495012

                      What is wrong in this strcpy()? I tried this function call, no compile time errors, but results in error during runtime. What could be the problem in that function call? char *s= "TEST"; char *s1= NULL; char * s_cpy(char * s,char * s1) { char * p=(char*) malloc(strlen(s)); p=s; printf("%s\n",p); // prints TEST printf("%s\n",s1); // prints printf("%s\n",s); // prints TEST strcpy(s1,p); //error, test.exe has encountered a problem return s1; }

                      M Offline
                      M Offline
                      Member 4194593
                      wrote on last edited by
                      #15

                      Several things are wrong. As pointed out, s1 is allocated as just a pointer to a string so you cannot copy data to it. In addition, you allocated only strlen bytes for the p copy, you need to allocate strlen+1 to allow the terminating null for string s. You may get away with this if a paragraph (16 bytes) is probably allocated for the malloc, but it is still bad code.

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                      • CPalliniC CPallini

                        auralius wrote:

                        char * p =(char*) malloc(strlen(s)+1); s1 = (char*) malloc(10); //use this!!!! p=s;

                        And what's the point of doing the above? :)

                        If the Lord God Almighty had consulted me before embarking upon the Creation, I would have recommended something simpler. -- Alfonso the Wise, 13th Century King of Castile.
                        This is going on my arrogant assumptions. You may have a superb reason why I'm completely wrong. -- Iain Clarke
                        [My articles]

                        A Offline
                        A Offline
                        auralius manurung
                        wrote on last edited by
                        #16

                        allocating memory so i won't be a NULL pointer anymore... :)

                        CPalliniC 1 Reply Last reply
                        0
                        • U User 5495012

                          What is wrong in this strcpy()? I tried this function call, no compile time errors, but results in error during runtime. What could be the problem in that function call? char *s= "TEST"; char *s1= NULL; char * s_cpy(char * s,char * s1) { char * p=(char*) malloc(strlen(s)); p=s; printf("%s\n",p); // prints TEST printf("%s\n",s1); // prints printf("%s\n",s); // prints TEST strcpy(s1,p); //error, test.exe has encountered a problem return s1; }

                          M Offline
                          M Offline
                          Mahesh Kulkarni
                          wrote on last edited by
                          #17

                          I observed following issues 1) Issue of Memory allocation 2) this is the case where we can understand the Global an Local variable concept. Try to name ur sencond argument in list with different name. May be it will work.

                          The secret of life is not enjoyment but education through experience. - Swami Vivekananda.

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                          • A auralius manurung

                            allocating memory so i won't be a NULL pointer anymore... :)

                            CPalliniC Offline
                            CPalliniC Offline
                            CPallini
                            wrote on last edited by
                            #18

                            char * p =(char*) malloc(strlen(s)+1);
                            s1 = (char*) malloc(10); //use this!!!!
                            p=s;

                            allocating memory for p and then setting p=s; make no sense to me. :)

                            If the Lord God Almighty had consulted me before embarking upon the Creation, I would have recommended something simpler. -- Alfonso the Wise, 13th Century King of Castile.
                            This is going on my arrogant assumptions. You may have a superb reason why I'm completely wrong. -- Iain Clarke
                            [My articles]

                            In testa che avete, signor di Ceprano?

                            A 1 Reply Last reply
                            0
                            • CPalliniC CPallini

                              char * p =(char*) malloc(strlen(s)+1);
                              s1 = (char*) malloc(10); //use this!!!!
                              p=s;

                              allocating memory for p and then setting p=s; make no sense to me. :)

                              If the Lord God Almighty had consulted me before embarking upon the Creation, I would have recommended something simpler. -- Alfonso the Wise, 13th Century King of Castile.
                              This is going on my arrogant assumptions. You may have a superb reason why I'm completely wrong. -- Iain Clarke
                              [My articles]

                              A Offline
                              A Offline
                              auralius manurung
                              wrote on last edited by
                              #19

                              yup, i know...i meant allocating memory for s1.. my concern wasn't on part where p=s. i thought application crashed due to NULL pointer on s1...that's why we must allocate memory for s1... :-D

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