FGETS(3)						   BSD Library Functions Manual 						  FGETS(3)

NAME

     fgets, gets -- get a line from a stream

LIBRARY

     Standard C Library (libc, -lc)

SYNOPSIS

     #include <stdio.h>

     char *
     fgets(char *restrict s, int n, FILE *restrict stream);

     char *
     gets(char *s);

DESCRIPTION

     The fgets() function reads at most one less than the number of characters specified by n from the given stream and stores them in the string
     s.  Reading stops when a newline character is found, at end-of-file or error.  The newline, if any, is retained.  If any characters are read
     and there is no error, a '' character is appended to end the string.

     The gets() function is equivalent to fgets() with an infinite n and a stream of stdin, except that the newline character (if any) is not
     stored in the string.  It is the caller's responsibility to ensure that the input line, if any, is sufficiently short to fit in the string.

RETURN VALUES

     Upon successful completion, fgets() and gets() return a pointer to the string.  If end-of-file occurs before any characters are read, they
     return NULL and the buffer contents remain unchanged.  If an error occurs, they return NULL and the buffer contents are indeterminate.  The
     fgets() and gets() functions do not distinguish between end-of-file and error; callers must use feof(3) and ferror(3) to determine which
     occurred.

ERRORS

     [EBADF]		The given stream is not a readable stream.

     The function fgets() may also fail and set errno for any of the errors specified for the routines fflush(3), fstat(2), read(2), or malloc(3).

     The function gets() may also fail and set errno for any of the errors specified for the routine getchar(3).

SECURITY CONSIDERATIONS

     The gets() function cannot be used securely.  Because of its lack of bounds checking, and the inability for the calling program to reliably
     determine the length of the next incoming line, the use of this function enables malicious users to arbitrarily change a running program's
     functionality through a buffer overflow attack.  It is strongly suggested that the fgets() function be used in all cases.	(See the FSA.)

SEE ALSO

     feof(3), ferror(3), fgetln(3), fgetws(3)

STANDARDS

     The functions fgets() and gets() conform to ISO/IEC 9899:1999 (``ISO C99'').

BSD
								   June 4, 1993 							       BSD