comparing character array and character pointer using strcmp

Question

int main(void) {
    char s[] = "ab";
    char *s1 = "ab";

    if(strcmp(s, s1))
        printf("%d", 24);
    else
        printf("%d", 23);

    return EXIT_SUCCESS;
}

Why it is giving 23 answer?

Because the strings are equal, strcmp returns 0. man strcmp! — laune
– laune, Commented Feb 17, 2014 at 19:18
Removed C++ tag and removed C language reference from title. — crashmstr
– crashmstr, Commented Feb 17, 2014 at 19:28

Joseph Mansfield · Accepted Answer · 2014-02-17 19:18:14Z

4

strcmp returns 0 if the given strings are equal, as in this case. 0 is converted to false, so the else block is executed, printing 23.

answered Feb 17, 2014 at 19:18

Joseph Mansfield

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Comments

Miller · Accepted Answer · 2014-02-17 19:41:53Z

4

This is because strcmp returns 0 if strings are equal. 0 is treated as false in C.

strcmp(string1, string2)

Return Value

if Return value < 0 then it indicates string1 is less than string2

if Return value > 0 then it indicates string2 is less than string1

if Return value = 0 then it indicates string1 is equal to string2

edited Feb 17, 2014 at 19:41

Miller

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answered Feb 17, 2014 at 19:18

haccks

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Comments

Sunil Bojanapally · Accepted Answer · 2014-02-17 19:18:29Z

2

strcmp on success returns 0. Hence if will fail.

Change if statement as,

if(strcmp(s , s1) == 0)

answered Feb 17, 2014 at 19:18

Sunil Bojanapally

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Comments

user2033018 · Accepted Answer · 2014-02-17 19:18:47Z

2

strcmp returns 0 if the two strings compare equal.

answered Feb 17, 2014 at 19:18

user2033018

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