[C] strcmp vs. dereference and ==

[Cervantes]

Is there any advantage to using strcmp over dereferencing the pointers and comparing with ==?

code:

#include <stdlib.h> #include <stdio.h> int main() {     char *foo = "major major";     char *bar = malloc(sizeof(char) * 12);     strcpy(bar, foo);     if (*foo == *bar) printf("Hello\n");     return 0; }

vs.

code:

#include <stdlib.h> #include <stdio.h> #include <string.h> int main() {     char *foo = "major major";     char *bar = malloc(sizeof(char) * 12);     strcpy(bar, foo);     if (strcmp(foo, bar) == 0) printf("Hello\n");     return 0; }

Both output the "Hello\n".

Both output the "Hello\n" even if I allocate more than 12 bytes to bar.

Thanks.

[Mazer]

If you dereference the character arrays, you will be left with two characters (the first character from each array).

code:

char *foo = "Hello"; char *bar = "Hippo";

So 'H' == 'H', even though "Hello" != "Hippo".

[Cervantes]

Of course!

I just realized that as I walked in a few minutes ago. I think I said this yesterday, but "hurray for sudden flashes of realization!"

Thanks, Mazer.

[Mazer]

Happy to be of service.

Actually, I was honestly just happy to use "Hippo" in a post.