---
name: "al_ref_cstr"
section: "3"
platform: "linux"
package: "allegro"
version: "5.2.11.3-2"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/al_ref_cstr"
---

# al\_ref\_cstr(3)

Allegro 5 API

## NAME

al\_ref\_cstr - Allegro 5 API

## SYNOPSIS

-

  ```
  #include <allegro5/allegro.h>
  const ALLEGRO_USTR *al_ref_cstr(ALLEGRO_USTR_INFO *info, const char *s)
  ```

## DESCRIPTION

Create a string that references the storage of a C-style string. The information about the string (e.g. its size) is stored in the structure pointed to by the `info` parameter. The string will not have any other storage allocated of its own, so if you allocate the `info` structure on the stack then no explicit “free” operation is required.

The string is valid until the underlying C string disappears.

Example:

-

  ```
  ALLEGRO_USTR_INFO info;
  ALLEGRO_USTR *us = al_ref_cstr(&info, "my string");
  ```

## SEE ALSO

[al\_ref\_buffer(3)](/al_ref_buffer/3.md), [al\_ref\_ustr(3)](/al_ref_ustr/3.md)