strdup Function - C Programming

[msp301]

Hey, I'm trying to comment out some code of a small program I've got and have come across the function "strdup"; I've tried looking up how the function should be used, but can't find a well written description, would anyone be able to explain what this function is designed to do ?? Thanks :)

[Jonnycake]

If you're on linux go to a shell and type "man 3 strdup" or if you're on windows, go to google and type the same thing. It should give you the synopsis and description of what it does. It's basically like doing a call to malloc and then strcpy. Example:

#include <stdio.h>
#include <string.h>

int main()
{
     char* whatever="Hello\n";
     char* next=strdup(whatever); // Allocate enough memory for whatever to be copied to next and then put the value into it
     printf("%s",next);
}

This would do the same thing:

#include <stdio.h>
#include <string.h>
#include <stdlib.h>

int main()
{
        char* whatever="Hello\n";
        char* next=malloc((sizeof(char)*strlen(whatever))); // Alocate enough memory for whatever to go into next
        strcpy(next,whatever); // Put the value into next
        printf("%s",next);
}