hpux man page for lfind

lsearch(3C)															       lsearch(3C)

NAME
       lsearch(), lfind() - linear search and update

SYNOPSIS
DESCRIPTION
       is a linear search routine generalized from Knuth (6.1) Algorithm S.
		      It  returns  a  pointer into a table indicating where a datum may be found.  If the datum does not occur, it is added at the
		      end of the table.

			   key		  Points to the datum to be sought in the table.

			   base 	  Points to the first element in the table.

			   nelp 	  Points to an integer containing the current number of elements in the table.	The integer is incremented
					  if the datum is added to the table.

			   compar	  Name	of  the  comparison function which the user must supply for example).  It is called with two argu-
					  ments that point to the elements being compared.  The function must return  zero  if	the  elements  are
					  equal and non-zero otherwise.

       Same as	      except that if the datum is not found, it is not added to the table.  Instead, a NULL pointer is returned.

   Notes
       The  pointers to the key and the element at the base of the table should be of type pointer-to-element, and cast to type pointer-to-charac-
       ter.

       The comparison function need not compare every byte, so arbitrary data may be contained in the elements in addition  to	the  values  being
       compared.

       Although declared as type pointer-to-character, the value returned should be cast into type pointer-to-element.

EXAMPLES
       This code fragment reads in <= strings of length <= and stores them in a table, eliminating duplicates.

		    ...
		    ...

RETURN VALUE
       If the searched-for datum is found, both and return a pointer to it.  Otherwise, returns NULL and returns a pointer to the newly added ele-
       ment.

WARNINGS
       Undefined results can occur if there is not enough room in the table to add a new item.

SEE ALSO
       bsearch(3C), hsearch(3C), tsearch(3C), thread_safety(5).

STANDARDS CONFORMANCE
																       lsearch(3C)