Is there a way I can print an array of characters using 'printf' in the following way (I know this isn't correct C code, I want to know if there is an alternative that will yield the same result).
printf("%s", {'h', 'e', 'l', 'l', 'o' });
2 Answers
This will work, but the length of the array must either be hard-coded in the format string or as a parameter or else the array must be defined twice (perhaps by one macro) so that its size can be calculated by the compiler:
printf("%.5s", (char []) {'h', 'e', 'l', 'l', 'o' });
12 Comments
Kevin
I believe you can also specify the length in the format string as a variable:
printf("%*s", length, array);
Greg A. Woods
that doesn't change the fact that it must either be hard-coded or taken from a second instance of the array (by sizeof()) (which is of course still all done at compile time, but unless both instances are provided by macro expansion then errors can creep in)
Kevin
Why does it have to be done at compile time? This could be in a function that takes a
char* and int. And why do you need another copy for sizeof? char arr[] = { 'a', 'b', 'c' }; int len = sizeof(arr);
M.M
It should be
%.5s, not %5sGreg A. Woods
Assumptions -- dangerous things they are.
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How about a simple while loop? Assuming the array is null-terminated, of course. If not - you'll need to adjust to counting the number of characters in the array.
char a[] = {'h','e','l','l','o','\0'};
int i = 0;
while (a[i] != "\0")
{
printf ("%c,", a[i]);
i++;
}
Output:
h,e,l,l,o,
Note: do NOT try this on a char**! This is for char[] only!
3 Comments
Crowman
It makes no sense to compare a character to
NULL.
tonysdg
@PaulGriffiths: fixed.
user3629249
this line:
while (a[i] != "\0") will not work as expected. Suggest: while (a[i] != '\0') as checking characters, not strings
printf("%s", "hello");printf("%.5s", (char[]){'h', 'e', 'l', 'l', 'o' });{'h','e','l','l','o'}. There's no'\0'in that. My interpretation of the question is that he does not want to change the array. If you read the question differently that's your prerogative, you can post your own answer or request clarification from OP.