Is the term "libc" equivalent to "C standard library"?

Question

I sometimes hear people using the terms "libc" and "C standard library" interchangeably. I understand that "libc" is the name (or part of the names) of many popular C standard library implementations. My guess is that because of the widespread use of these implementations, people started referring to the C standard library in general as "libc" although it is not an official name.

Is it correct to refer to the C standard library as "libc"?

Answer 1

I always thought that "libc" just happens to be the name (or part of the names) of many popular C standard library implementations.

This is correct. "libc" is the name of some implementations of the C Standard Library.

As an example of a C Standard Library implementation that is not named "libc," the Microsoft C Standard Library implementation is a part of the "C Run-Time Libraries," usually referred to as the "CRT."

Is it correct to refer to the C standard library as "libc"?

The C Standard Library is not named "libc," so using that term to refer to it generically (and not to a particular implementation) would be incorrect. That said, in most contexts, if you did use the term "libc" to refer to the C Standard Library, you are still likely to be understood.