The Open Group Base Specifications Issue 6
IEEE Std 1003.1, 2004 Edition
Copyright © 2001-2004 The IEEE and The Open Group, All Rights reserved.

#### NAME

> ecvt, fcvt, gcvt - convert a floating-point number to a string (LEGACY)

#### SYNOPSIS

> ``[XSI] #include <stdlib.h>
> char *ecvt(double` value`, int` ndigit`, int *restrict` decpt`,
> int *restrict` sign`);
> char *fcvt(double` value`, int` ndigit`, int *restrict` decpt`,
> int *restrict` sign`);
> char *gcvt(double` value`, int` ndigit`, char *`buf`);``
> `
> `

#### DESCRIPTION

> The ecvt(), fcvt(), and gcvt() functions shall convert floating-point numbers to null-terminated strings.

> The ecvt() function shall convert value to a null-terminated string of ndigit digits (where ndigit is reduced to an unspecified limit determined by the precision of a double) and return a pointer to the string. The high-order digit shall be non-zero, unless the value is 0. The low-order digit shall be rounded in an implementation-defined manner. The position of the radix character relative to the beginning of the string shall be stored in the integer pointed to by decpt (negative means to the left of the returned digits). If value is zero, it is unspecified whether the integer pointed to by decpt would be 0 or 1. The radix character shall not be included in the returned string. If the sign of the result is negative, the integer pointed to by sign shall be non-zero; otherwise, it shall be 0.

> If the converted value is out of range or is not representable, the contents of the returned string are unspecified.

> The fcvt() function shall be equivalent to ecvt(), except that ndigit specifies the number of digits desired after the radix character. The total number of digits in the result string is restricted to an unspecified limit as determined by the precision of a double.

> The gcvt() function shall convert value to a null-terminated string (similar to that of the `%g` conversion specification format of printf()) in the array pointed to by buf and shall return buf. It shall produce ndigit significant digits (limited to an unspecified value determined by the precision of a double) in the `%f` conversion specification format of printf() if possible, or the `%e` conversion specification format of printf() (scientific notation) otherwise. A minus sign shall be included in the returned string if value is less than 0. A radix character shall be included in the returned string if value is not a whole number. Trailing zeros shall be suppressed where value is not a whole number. The radix character is determined by the current locale. If setlocale() has not been called successfully, the default locale, POSIX, is used. The default locale specifies a period ( `'.'` ) as the radix character. The LC_NUMERIC category determines the value of the radix character within the current locale.

> These functions need not be reentrant. A function that is not required to be reentrant is not required to be thread-safe.

#### RETURN VALUE

> The ecvt() and fcvt() functions shall return a pointer to a null-terminated string of digits.

> The gcvt() function shall return buf.

> The return values from ecvt() and fcvt() may point to static data which may be overwritten by subsequent calls to these functions.

#### ERRORS

> No errors are defined.

The following sections are informative.

#### EXAMPLES

> None.

#### APPLICATION USAGE

> The sprintf() function is preferred over this function.

#### RATIONALE

> None.

#### FUTURE DIRECTIONS

> These functions may be withdrawn in a future version.

#### SEE ALSO

> printf(), setlocale(), the Base Definitions volume of IEEE Std 1003.1-2001, <stdlib.h>

#### CHANGE HISTORY

> First released in Issue 4, Version 2.

#### Issue 5

> Moved from X/OPEN UNIX extension to BASE.

> Normative text previously in the APPLICATION USAGE section is moved to the DESCRIPTION.

> A note indicating that these functions need not be reentrant is added to the DESCRIPTION.

#### Issue 6

> In the DESCRIPTION, the note about reentrancy is expanded to cover thread-safety.

> This function is marked LEGACY.

> The restrict keyword is added to the ecvt() and fcvt() prototypes for alignment with the ISO/IEC 9899:1999 standard.

> The DESCRIPTION is updated to explicitly use "conversion specification" to describe `%g`, `%f`, and `%e`.

End of informative text.

UNIX ® is a registered Trademark of The Open Group.
POSIX ® is a registered Trademark of The IEEE.
[ Main Index | XBD | XCU | XSH | XRAT ]