Why is the fgets function deprecated?

Question

From The GNU C Programming Tutorial:

The fgets ("file get string") function is similar to the gets function. This function is deprecated -- that means it is obsolete and it is strongly suggested you do not use it -- because it is dangerous. It is dangerous because if the input data contains a null character, you can't tell. Don't use fgets unless you know the data cannot contain a null. Don't use it to read files edited by the user because, if the user inserts a null character, you should either handle it properly or print a clear error message. Always use getline or getdelim instead of fgets if you can.

I thought the fgets function stops when it encounters a \0 or \n; why does this manual page suggest a null byte is "dangerous" when fgets should handle the input properly? Furthermore, what is the difference between getline and fgets, and is the fgets function truly considered deprecated in the C99 or future C standards?

Answer 1

No, fgets is not actually deprecated in C99 or the current standard, C11. But the author of that tutorial is right that fgets will not stop when it encounters a NUL, and has no mechanism for reporting its reading of such a character.

The fgets function reads at most one less than the number of characters specified by n from the stream pointed to by stream into the array pointed to by s. No additional characters are read after a new-line character (which is retained) or after end-of-file.

(§7.21.7.2)

GNU's getdelim and getline have been standardized in POSIX 2008, so if you're targeting a POSIX platform, then it might not be a bad idea to use those instead.

EDIT I thought there was absolutely no safe way to use fgets in the face of NUL characters, but R.. (see comments) pointed out there is:

char buf[256];

memset(buf, '\n', sizeof(buf));  // fgets will never write a newline
fgets(buf, sizeof(buf), fp);

Now look for the last non-\n character in buf. I wouldn't actually recommend this kludge, though.

Answer 2

This is just GNU propaganda. In no official sense is fgets deprecated. gets however is dangerous and deprecated.