FUNCTION::USER_STRING_UTF16(3stap)

💖 function::user_string_utf16 — bestie edition 💖

okay so this one lives in the 3stap manual (that's the SystemTap tapset section, iykyk), and it's genuinely one of my faves because it does the ✨glow-up✨ for you: it takes a UTF-16 string out of user memory and hands it back as a cute little UTF-8 string. no cap.

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🌸 NAME 🌸

function::user_string_utf16 — Retrieves UTF-16 string from user memory

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✨ SYNOPSIS ✨

1) user_string_utf16:string(addr:long)

2) user_string_utf16:string(addr:long,err_msg:string)

two whole flavors, pick your fighter 🫶

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🎀 ARGUMENTS 🎀

• addr — The user address to retrieve the string from. that's the spot in user memory where the UTF-16 string is just vibing, waiting for you.
• err_msg — The error message to return when data isn't available. it's your little "hey bestie something went wrong" note, but make it custom 💅

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🦋 DESCRIPTION 🦋

1) This function returns a null terminated UTF-8 string converted from the UTF-16 string at a given user memory address. Reports an error on string copy fault or conversion error.

so like — you point it at some user memory, it reads the UTF-16 there, and it gives you back a null terminated UTF-8 string. iconic behaviour. but if the string copy faults out, or the conversion doesn't go through? it reports an error. it's giving honest. 😭

2) This function returns a null terminated UTF-8 string converted from the UTF-16 string at a given user memory address. Reports the given error message on string copy fault or conversion error.

same deal, same conversion, same null terminated UTF-8 result — but this time when there's a string copy fault or a conversion error, it reports the given error message instead. that's err_msg, your own words, your own vibe. main character energy fr fr 💜

ngl both versions do the exact same conversion, the only difference is whose error message shows up when things go sideways. one is the default, one is yours. periodt.

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🌈 SEE ALSO 🌈

• tapset::uconversions(3stap)

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that's the whole page bestie, no filler, no gatekeeping 💖

this was the SystemTap Tapset Reference, Version (the one dated September 2026), and it belongs to the 3stap manual. mwah, go read tapset::uconversions(3stap) next, it's lowkey the sequel 👑🌸