BSEARCH(3)                OpenBSD Programmer's Manual               BSEARCH(3)

NAME
     bsearch - binary search of a sorted table



SYNOPSIS
     #include <stdlib.h>

     void *
     bsearch(const void *key, const void *base, size_t nmemb, size_t size,
             int (*compar) (const void *, const void *));

DESCRIPTION
     The bsearch() function searches an array of nmemb objects, the initial
     member of which is pointed to by base, for a member that matches the ob-
     ject pointed to by key. The size of each member of the array is specified
     by size.

     The contents of the array should be in ascending sorted order according
     to the comparison function referenced by compar. The compar routine is
     expected to have two arguments which point to the key object and to an
     array member, in that order, and should return an integer less than,
     equal to, or greater than zero if the key object is found, respectively,
     to be less than, to match, or be greater than the array member.

RETURN VALUES
     The bsearch() function returns a pointer to a matching member of the ar-
     ray, or a null pointer if no match is found.  If two members compare as
     equal, which member is matched is unspecified.

SEE ALSO
     db(3),  lsearch(3),  qsort(3),  tsearch(3)

STANDARDS
     The bsearch() function conforms to ANSI X3.159-1989 (``ANSI C'').

OpenBSD 2.6                     April 19, 1994                               1