How to print the string a pointer points to while debugging using GDB?

Question

How do I inspect a string a pointer is pointing to when stepping through a program using GDB?

I can see the a pointer is pointing to 0x82c6e10. I know it is a string. How do I print it?

Using printf("%s\n", 0x82c6e10) gives Bad format string, missing '"'. The fact that gdb does not complain of unknown command tells me that the solution is some variation of what I am doing. Am I right? I tried escaping the quotes but that did not help.

Paul R · Accepted Answer · 2015-06-01 14:49:32Z

21

Use x rather than p:

x /s 0x82c6e10

edited Jun 1, 2015 at 14:49

answered Nov 24, 2010 at 9:01

Paul R

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Jacek Konieczny · Accepted Answer · 2010-11-24 08:58:44Z

19

Try:

print (char *)pointer

answered Nov 24, 2010 at 8:58

Jacek Konieczny

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wnoise · Accepted Answer · 2010-11-24 09:04:05Z

18

Here printf is not a function, but a gdb command. Omit the parentheses.

Better yet, just use the print command, or the x command with format /s

(You can actually call the C function printf() with the call command.)`

gdb has voluminous help available with the help command. Try it.

answered Nov 24, 2010 at 9:04

wnoise

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Thomas Padron-McCarthy · Accepted Answer · 2010-11-24 08:59:02Z

3

print (char*)0x82c6e10

answered Nov 24, 2010 at 8:59

Thomas Padron-McCarthy

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