Our website uses cookies to enhance your browsing experience.
Accept
to the top
>
>
>
V541. String is printed into itself. Co…
menu mobile close menu
Analyzer diagnostics
General Analysis (C++)
General Analysis (C#)
General Analysis (Java)
Micro-Optimizations (C++)
Diagnosis of 64-bit errors (Viva64, C++)
Customer specific requests (C++)
MISRA errors
AUTOSAR errors
OWASP errors (C++)
OWASP errors (C#)
Problems related to code analyzer
Additional information
toggle menu Contents

V541. String is printed into itself. Consider inspecting the expression.

Nov 19 2010

The analyzer detected a potential error: a string gets printed inside itself. This may lead to unexpected results.

Look at this sample:

char s[100] = "test";
sprintf(s, "N = %d, S = %s", 123, s);

In this code, the 's' buffer is used simultaneously as a buffer for a new string and as one of the elements making up the text. The programmer intends to get this string:

N = 123, S = test

But actually this code will cause creating the following string:

N = 123, S = N = 123, S =

In other cases, such code can lead not only to the output of incorrect text, but also to the buffer overflow or a program crash. To fix the code, we should use a new buffer to save the result. This is the correct code:

char s1[100] = "test";
char s2[100];
sprintf(s2, "N = %d, S = %s", 123, s1);

This diagnostic is classified as:

You can look at examples of errors detected by the V541 diagnostic.

close form

Fill out the form in 2 simple steps below:

Your contact information:

Step 1
Congratulations! This is your promo code!

Desired license type:

Step 2
Team license
Enterprise license
** By clicking this button you agree to our Privacy Policy statement
close form
Request our prices
New License
License Renewal
--Select currency--
USD
EUR
* By clicking this button you agree to our Privacy Policy statement

close form
Free PVS‑Studio license for Microsoft MVP specialists
* By clicking this button you agree to our Privacy Policy statement

close form
To get the licence for your open-source project, please fill out this form
* By clicking this button you agree to our Privacy Policy statement

close form
I am interested to try it on the platforms:
* By clicking this button you agree to our Privacy Policy statement

close form
check circle
Message submitted.

Your message has been sent. We will email you at


If you do not see the email in your inbox, please check if it is filtered to one of the following folders:

  • Promotion
  • Updates
  • Spam