strncmp(9)

💅 strncmp(9) — like, the Kernel API Manual one, bestie ✨

Okay so before we even get into it: yes, this is a page from the Kernel API Manual, section 9, and the star of the show is strncmp. She compares two strings but — and this is the whole personality — only up to a byte limit. Length-limited. Capped. Boundaries set. We love a queen with standards 🎀

🌸 NAME 🌸

strncmp — compare two length-limited strings, fr fr 🫶

✨ SYNOPSIS ✨

int strncmp (const char *cs , const char *ct , size_t count );

That's the whole vibe. Three things in, an int out. Slay 💅

🦋 ARGUMENTS 🦋

• cs — one string. Just a string. The first one. The main character, arguably 👑
• ct — another string. The other one. The one cs is getting compared against 🌈
• count — the maximum number of bytes to compare. Like, the maximum. It will not look at a single byte past this, and honestly? Respect 🙈

💖 SEE ALSO 💖

So you're in the kernel file ./lib/string.c, which means you have options, bestie. The whole friend group is here:

• strncasecmp(9)
• stpcpy(9)
• strcmp(9)
• strchr(9)
• strchrnul(9)
• strnchrnul(9)
• strrchr(9)
• strnchr(9)
• strspn(9)
• strcspn(9)
• strpbrk(9)
• strsep(9)
• memset(9)
• memset16(9)
• memset32(9)
• memset64(9)
• memcpy(9)
• memmove(9)
• memcmp(9)
• bcmp(9)
• memscan(9)
• strstr(9)
• strnstr(9)
• memchr(9)
• memchr_inv(9)

No cap, that's a whole squad. Go say hi to them, iykyk 🧚

Lowkey a little reminder from your girl: count is the maximum number of bytes to compare. Maximum. It's giving "know your limits" and it's iconic 🌸

okay bye, ily, go compare some strings responsibly 💜

— from ./lib, dated October 2026, signing off with a 🎀 and a strncmp(9) 💅✨