GETS(3P)

PROLOG
This manual page is part of the POSIX Programmer's Manual. The Linux implementation of this interface may differ (consult the corresponding Linux manual page for details of Linux behavior), or the interface may not be implemented on Linux.

NAME
gets - get a string from a stdin stream

SYNOPSIS

#include <stdio.h>

char *gets(char *s);

DESCRIPTION

The gets() function shall read bytes from the standard input stream, stdin, into the array pointed to by s, until a <newline> is read or an end-of-file condition is encountered. Any <newline> shall be discarded and a null byte shall be placed immediately after the last byte read into the array.

The gets() function may mark the st_atime field of the file associated with stream for update. The st_atime field shall be marked for update by the first successful execution of fgetc(), fgets(), fread(), getc(), getchar(), gets(), fscanf(), or scanf() using stream that returns data not supplied by a prior call to ungetc().

RETURN VALUE

Upon successful completion, gets() shall return s. If the stream is at end-of-file, the end-of-file indicator for the stream shall be set and gets() shall return a null pointer. If a read error occurs, the error indicator for the stream shall be set, gets() shall return a null pointer, and set errno to indicate the error.

ERRORS

Refer to fgetc().

The following sections are informative.

EXAMPLES

None.

APPLICATION USAGE

Reading a line that overflows the array pointed to by s results in undefined behavior. The use of fgets() is recommended.

Since the user cannot specify the length of the buffer passed to gets(), use of this function is discouraged. The length of the string read is unlimited. It is possible to overflow this buffer in such a way as to cause applications to fail, or possible system security violations.

It is recommended that the fgets() function should be used to read input lines.

RATIONALE

None.

FUTURE DIRECTIONS

None.

SEE ALSO

feof(), ferror(), fgets(), the Base Definitions volume of IEEE Std 1003.1-2001, <stdio.h>

COPYRIGHT
Portions of this text are reprinted and reproduced in electronic form from IEEE Std 1003.1, 2003 Edition, Standard for Information Technology -- Portable Operating System Interface (POSIX), The Open Group Base Specifications Issue 6, Copyright (C) 2001-2003 by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc and The Open Group. In the event of any discrepancy between this version and the original IEEE and The Open Group Standard, the original IEEE and The Open Group Standard is the referee document. The original Standard can be obtained online at http://www.opengroup.org/unix/online.html .