# cStringLength() Returns the length in char-sized units of the receiver’s C-string representation in the default C-string encoding. ``` func cStringLength() -> Int ``` ## Discussion Raises if the receiver can’t be represented in the default C-string encoding without loss of information. You can also use [`canBeConverted(to:)`](/documentation/Foundation/NSString/canBeConverted(to:)) to check whether a string can be losslessly converted to the default C-string encoding. If it can’t, use [`lossyCString()`](/documentation/Foundation/NSString/lossyCString()) to get a C-string representation with some loss of information, then check its length explicitly using the ANSI function `strlen()`. ## See Also [`var utf8String: UnsafePointer?`](/documentation/Foundation/NSString/utf8String) A null-terminated UTF8 representation of the string. [`func maximumLengthOfBytes(using: UInt) -> Int`](/documentation/Foundation/NSString/maximumLengthOfBytes(using:)) Returns the maximum number of bytes needed to store the receiver in a given encoding. [`func lengthOfBytes(using: UInt) -> Int`](/documentation/Foundation/NSString/lengthOfBytes(using:)) Returns the number of bytes required to store the receiver in a given encoding. --- Copyright © 2026 Apple Inc. All rights reserved. | [Terms of Use](https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/terms/site.html) | [Privacy Policy](https://www.apple.com/privacy/privacy-policy)