Creates a CFMutableString object whose Unicode character buffer is controlled externally.


CFMutableStringRef CFStringCreateMutableWithExternalCharactersNoCopy(CFAllocatorRef alloc, UniChar *chars, CFIndex numChars, CFIndex capacity, CFAllocatorRef externalCharactersAllocator);



The allocator to use to allocate memory for the string. Pass NULL or kCFAllocatorDefault to use the current default allocator.


The Unicode character buffer for the new CFMutableString. Before calling, create this buffer on the stack or heap and optionally initialize it with Unicode character data. Upon return, the created CFString object keeps its own copy of the pointer to this buffer. You may pass in NULL if there is no initial buffer being provided.


The number of characters initially in the Unicode buffer pointed to by chars.


The capacity of the external buffer (chars); that is, the maximum number of Unicode characters that can be stored. This value should be 0 if no initial buffer is provided.


The allocator to use to reallocate the external buffer when editing takes place and for deallocating the buffer when string is deallocated. If the default allocator is suitable for these purposes, pass NULL. To manage the buffer yourself, pass



Return Value

A new mutable string, or NULL if there was a problem creating the object. Ownership follows the The Create Rule.


This function permits you to create a CFMutableString object whose backing store is an external Unicode character buffer—that is, a buffer that you control (or can control) entirely. This function allows you to take advantage of the features of CFString, particularly the CFMutableString functions that add and modify character data. But at the same time you can directly add, delete, modify, and examine the characters in the buffer. You can even replace the buffer entirely. If, however, you directly modify or replace the character buffer, you should inform the CFString object of this change with the CFStringSetExternalCharactersNoCopy function.

If you mutate the character contents with the CFString functions, and the buffer needs to be enlarged, the CFString object calls the allocation callbacks specified for the allocator externalCharactersAllocator, or

the default allocator

if kCFAllocatorNull is specified.

This function should be used in special circumstances where you want to create a CFString wrapper around an existing, potentially large UniChar buffer you own. Using this function causes the CFString object to forgo some of its internal optimizations, so it should be avoided in general use. That is, if you want to create a CFString object from a small UniChar buffer, and you don't need to continue owning the buffer, use one of the other creation functions (for instance CFStringCreateWithCharacters) instead.

See Also

CFMutableString Miscellaneous Functions
















Creates an empty CFMutableString object.


Creates a mutable copy of a string.


Deletes a range of characters in a string.


Replaces all occurrences of a substring within a given range.


Folds a given string into the form specified by optional flags.




Changes all uppercase alphabetical characters in a CFMutableString to lowercase.








Replaces all characters of a CFMutableString object with other characters.




Perform in-place transliteration on a mutable string.




Trims whitespace from the beginning and end of a CFMutableString object.


Changes all lowercase alphabetical characters in a CFMutableString object to uppercase.