---
name: "curl_strnequal"
section: "3"
platform: "linux"
package: "curl"
version: "8.23.0-1"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux", "macos"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/curl_strnequal"
---

# curl\_strnequal(3)

compare two strings ignoring case

## NAME

curl\_strnequal - compare two strings ignoring case

## SYNOPSIS

```
#include <curl/curl.h>
int curl_strnequal(const char *str1, const char *str2, size_t length);
```

## DESCRIPTION

The *[curl\_strnequal(3)](/curl_strnequal/3.md)* function compares the two strings *str1* and *str2*, ignoring the case of the characters. It returns a non-zero (TRUE) integer if the strings are identical.

This function compares no more than the first *length* bytes of *str1* and *str2*.

This function uses plain ASCII based comparisons completely disregarding the locale - contrary to how **strcasecmp** and other system case insensitive string comparisons usually work.

This function is provided by libcurl to enable applications to compare strings in a truly portable manner. There are no standard portable case insensitive string comparison functions. This function works on all platforms.

## PROTOCOLS

This functionality affects all supported protocols

## EXAMPLE

```
int main(int argc, char *argv[])
{
  static const char *name = "compare";
  if(curl_strnequal(name, argv[1], 5))
    printf("Name and input matches in the 5 first bytes\n");
}
```

## AVAILABILITY

Added in curl 7.1

## RETURN VALUE

Non-zero if the strings are identical. Zero if they are not.

## SEE ALSO

[**curl\_strequal**(3)](/curl_strequal/3.md), [**strcasecmp**(3)](/strcasecmp/3.md), [**strcmp**(3)](/strcmp/3.md)