What are the return values of strcmp function in c?

Understanding the Return Values of strcmp Function

Introduction

The strcmp function is a fundamental string comparison function in the C programming language. It is used to compare two strings and determine their relative order in lexicographical terms. strcmp returns an integer value that indicates the result of the comparison.

Return Values

The return value of strcmp can be interpreted as follows:

1. Negative Value ( < 0 ):

   • When the first string is lexicographically less than the second string.
   • Example: strcmp("apple", "banana") returns a negative value.

2. Zero ( 0 ):

   • When both strings are equal.
   • Example: strcmp("hello", "hello") returns 0.

3. Positive Value ( > 0 ):

   • When the first string is lexicographically greater than the second string.
   • Example: strcmp("zebra", "apple") returns a positive value.

Usage Example

#include 
#include 

int main() {
    char str1[] = "apple";
    char str2[] = "banana";

    int result = strcmp(str1, str2);

    if(result < 0)
        printf("%s is less than %s\n", str1, str2);
    else if(result == 0)
        printf("%s is equal to %s\n", str1, str2);
    else
        printf("%s is greater than %s\n", str1, str2);

    return 0;
}

Summary

Understanding the return values of strcmp is crucial for effective string comparison in C programming. By utilizing these return values, you can make informed decisions in your code based on the relative order of strings.

For further information and examples, plese visit C-Programming From Scratch to Advanced 2023-2024

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