Linux Drops strncpy API After 6 Years and 362 Commits for Kernel 7.2
Updated
Updated · Phoronix · Jun 18
Linux Drops strncpy API After 6 Years and 362 Commits for Kernel 7.2
1 articles · Updated · Phoronix · Jun 18
Summary
Linux has removed the strncpy API and the last per-CPU architecture implementations, closing a six-year cleanup in the code headed for kernel 7.2.
362 commits drove the change because strncpy had long caused bugs through confusing NUL-termination behavior and wasted work by zero-filling destination buffers.
Kernel developers now direct code to use strscpy(), strscpy_pad(), strtomem_pad(), memcpy_and_pad(), or memcpy(), depending on whether copies need termination, padding, or fixed-length handling.
The removal caps a long-running hardening effort aimed at replacing a bug-prone legacy interface with more explicit, purpose-built memory-copy routines.