strsep(3) - Linux man page

Name

strsep - extract token from string

Synopsis

#include <string.h>

char *strsep(char **stringp, const char *delim);
Feature Test Macro Requirements for glibc (see feature_test_macros(7)):
strsep(): _BSD_SOURCE

Description

If *stringp is NULL, the strsep() function returns NULL and does nothing else. Otherwise, this function finds the first token in the string *stringp, where tokens are delimited by symbols in the string delim. This token is terminated by overwriting the delimiter with a null byte ('\0') and *stringp is updated to point past the token. In case no delimiter was found, the token is taken to be the entire string *stringp, and *stringp is made NULL.

Return Value

The strsep() function returns a pointer to the token, that is, it returns the original value of *stringp.

Conforming To

4.4BSD.

Notes

The strsep() function was introduced as a replacement for strtok(3), since the latter cannot handle empty fields. However, strtok(3) conforms to C89/C99 and hence is more portable.

Bugs

Be cautious when using this function. If you do use it, note that:

*

This function modifies its first argument.

*

This function cannot be used on constant strings.

*

The identity of the delimiting character is lost.

See Also

index(3), memchr(3), rindex(3), strchr(3), string(3), strpbrk(3), strspn(3), strstr(3), strtok(3)

Referenced By

strrstr(3), strtok_r(3)