Hi Joseph, > Date: 2026-08-03 19:31:19+0000 > From: Joseph Myers <[email protected]> > > On Sun, 2 Aug 2026, Alejandro Colomar wrote: > > > If <string.h> was described as providing functions that exclusively > > handle strings, then programmers that only need to handle strings would > > naturally self-limit to functions from this header file. > > A one-line change to the description of <string.h> in the C standard, from > "String handling" to "String and memory utilities" or similar, to make > clear it's *not* (and never has been) exclusively handling strings, might > well make sense. That's all the change that I think makes sense in this > area.
Please propose it. I'd likely vote for it; it can be a positive change. It certainly wouldn't be a one-line change, given that you'd also have to change things like '7.28.1 String function conventions', and quite a few others, but yeah, I get and support your idea. I believe adding <memory.h> can be even better than that, but at least your proposal is in the good direction. As I said in my last message to Sam, if the currnt man-pages change proves to be problematic contrary to my expectations, I will revisit this and revert the documentation change. We can also improve the wording in the meantime if the current man-pages text is sub-optimal. Have a lovely day! Alex -- <https://www.alejandro-colomar.es>
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