# PR_StringToNetAddr

Converts a character string to a network address.

## Syntax

```{code}
#include <prnetdb.h>

PRStatus PR_StringToNetAddr(
  const char *string,
  PRNetAddr *addr);
```

### Parameters

The function has the following parameters:

`string`

: The string to be converted.

`addr`

: On output, the equivalent network address.

### Returns

The function returns one of the following values:

- If successful, `PR_SUCCESS`.
- If unsuccessful, `PR_FAILURE`. You can retrieve the reason for the
  failure by calling {ref}`PR_GetError`.

## Description

For IPv4 addresses, the input string represents numbers in the Internet
standard "." notation. IPv6 addresses are indicated as strings using ":"
characters separating octets, with numerous caveats for shortcutting
(see RFC #1884). If the NSPR library and the host are configured to
support IPv6, both formats are supported. Otherwise, use of anything
other than IPv4 dotted notation results in an error.