Question

There is a strptime function in many language libraries (C, Python, Ruby, PHP, PERL, etc.).

It seems to be based on the Open Group’s specification for time.h.

I understand ‘str’ stands for string, and ‘time’ obviously stands for time, but what does the ‘p’ stand for? Parse? Pointer? Print?

Every time I reach for the strptime() function, I have a mental blank, and have to look up the name in a manual. I figure if I finally worked out what it stood for, perhaps I would have a chance of remembering it.

Answer 1

p = pointer. It returns a pointer to a char.

BTW According to my K&R there is a

char *strpbrk(cs,ct);

This ‘p’ also refers to the returned pointer.