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Memset C

More than a third word of the alphabet, C is a strictly compiled programming language that forms the base of all other languages in the programming world today. In other words, the programs written in C run only after being compiled. C is constrained to certain parameters or functions but contains some different functions that serve some specific purpose. In this article, you would be learning about memset() in C and other factors and use cases associated with it.

What is memset()?

The function memset(“memory setter“) is a standard library function in C language that sets or fills a memory block semantically with a value.

For instance, consider that you have an array of 8 characters consuming 8 bytes of memory when this array is declared, your computer chunks off 8 bytes of memory on the heap available in your system. This memory allocation is not random. Randomization occurs only when the process like Address Space Layout Randomization occurs for some exemplary purposes or, hexadecimal allocation of address in the range of 0x00 to 0x07. Consider you declare an array of array of 8 characters as shown.

Memset C

Initially, you are completely unaware of the contents of this block memory taken by the array without initializing the array. Although it can be nothing but can be an old value that you might have used in the previous programs, or the block in the memory might be undefined.

In general, and to keep up with good practices while working with C, it is best to gain full control over any memory used in any given program. Therefore, instead of leaving these 8 bytes of memory vacant, you must always set or fill the memory with a known or given value along with a null byte (

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