How to convert byte array to NSString

Question

I am reading data from a TCP/IP stream and am successfully receiving a byte array from the pre-existing server. I am now trying to find a way to convert that array to an NSString. I have found several examples, but am having a hard time getting my desired results.

NSData *data=[[NSMutableData alloc] init];

uint8_t buffer[1024];
unsigned int len=0;

len=[(NSInputStream *)stream read:buffer maxLength:1024];
if(len>0){  

    [data appendBytes:&buffer length:len];
    //BYTE ARRAY OBTAINED OK!!
    ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////

    //METHOD #1 - Yields 'nil'
    NSString *string = [[NSString alloc] initWithData:data
                                             encoding:NSUTF8StringEncoding];

    ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////
    //METHOD #2 - Log prints OK, but messageString says
    //'invalid' in debugger, and get warnings all over the 
    //place. I know this is wrong, but it semi-works :)

    size_t length=[data length];
    unsigned char aBuffer[length];
    [data getBytes:aBuffer length:length];
    aBuffer[length - 1]=0;

    NSString *messageString =aBuffer; 
    NSLog (@"%s",messageString);

    ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////

}else{
    NSLog(@"No Buffer");
}

Please help! Any assistance provided is GREATLY appreciated.

Bobrovsky · Accepted Answer · 2012-10-17 14:03:10Z

19

I got the answer.

I had to change this:

NSString *string = [[NSString alloc] initWithData:data
                                         encoding:NSUTF8StringEncoding];

To this:

NSString *string = [[NSString alloc] initWithData:data
                                         encoding:NSASCIIStringEncoding];

edited Oct 17, 2012 at 14:03

Bobrovsky

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answered Apr 10, 2009 at 20:51

Dutchie432

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2 Comments

samiq Over a year ago

awesome! I've been struggling with this for 2 days... awesome finding!

TJez Over a year ago

This solution isn't going to work when you receive anything multi-byte. For example "c3 97" is the multiplication sign in UTF-8. If your data buffer only caught the c3 and the 97 is coming in the next buffer then you're in trouble.

Chris Lundie · Accepted Answer · 2009-04-10 20:44:32Z

4

This is wrong:

[data appendBytes:&buffer length:len];

It should be:

[data appendBytes:buffer length:len];

answered Apr 10, 2009 at 20:44

Chris Lundie

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Comments

Andrew Grant · Accepted Answer · 2009-04-10 20:43:12Z

-1

NSString* string = [NSString stringWithUTF8String: data];

Make sure your data is null-terminated, obviously.

answered Apr 10, 2009 at 20:43

Andrew Grant

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