About This Book

This book provides a guide to the run-time library provided with Microsoft C/C++.

This book has two parts. Part 1, “Overview,” introduces the Microsoft run-time library. It describes general rules for using the library and summarizes the main categories of library routines. Part 1 contains the following chapters:

Chapter 1, “Using the Run-Time Library,” gives general rules for understanding and using library routines and mentions special considerations that apply to certain routines. It is recommended that you read this chapter before using the run-time library; you may also want to turn to Chapter 1 when you have questions about library procedures.

Chapter 2, “Run-Time Routines by Category,” lists the library routines by category and discusses considerations that apply to each category. This chapter makes it easy to locate routines by task. Once you find the routine you want, turn to the reference page in Part 2 for a detailed description.

Chapter 3, “Global Variables and Standard Types,” describes variables and types that are used by library routines. Global variables and standard types are also described in the reference descriptions of the routines that use them.

Part 2, “Run-Time Functions,” describes the library routines in alphabetical order. Once you are familiar with the run-time library rules and procedures, you will probably use this part most often.