---
name: "memmove"
section: "3"
platform: "linux"
package: "man-pages"
version: "6.19-1"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux", "freebsd", "macos"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/memmove"
---

# memmove(3)

memory move

## NAME

memmove - memory move

## LIBRARY

Standard C library (*libc*, *-lc*)

## SYNOPSIS

```
#include <string.h>  // see memory.h(3head)
```

**void \*memmove(**size\_t n;               **void** *dest***\[***n***\], const void** *src***\[***n***\], size\_t** *n***);**

## DESCRIPTION

This function is similar to [**memcpy**(3)](/memcpy/3.md), but the memory areas may overlap.

## RETURN VALUE

See [**memcpy**(3)](/memcpy/3.md).

## ATTRIBUTES

For an explanation of the terms used in this section, see [**attributes**(7)](/attributes/7.md).

| | | |
| --- | --- | --- |
| **Interface** | **Attribute** | **Value** |
| **memmove**() | Thread safety | MT-Safe |

## STANDARDS

C11, POSIX.1-2008.

## HISTORY

POSIX.1-2001, C89, SVr4, 4.3BSD.

## SEE ALSO

[**memory.h**(3head)](/memory.h/3head.md), [**memcpy**(3)](/memcpy/3.md), [**wmemmove**(3)](/wmemmove/3.md)