---
title: "CFStringGetFileSystemRepresentation(_:_:_:)"
framework: corefoundation
role: symbol
role_heading: Function
path: "corefoundation/cfstringgetfilesystemrepresentation(_:_:_:)"
---

# CFStringGetFileSystemRepresentation(_:_:_:)

Extracts the contents of a string as a NULL-terminated 8-bit string appropriate for passing to POSIX APIs.

## Declaration

```swift
func CFStringGetFileSystemRepresentation(_ string: CFString!, _ buffer: UnsafeMutablePointer<CChar>!, _ maxBufLen: CFIndex) -> Bool
```

## Parameters

- `string`: The string to convert.
- `buffer`: The C string buffer into which to copy the string. The buffer must be at least maxBufLen bytes in length. On return, the buffer contains the converted characters.
- `maxBufLen`: The maximum length of the buffer.

## Return Value

Return Value true if the string is correctly converted; false if the conversion fails, or the results don’t fit into the buffer.

## Discussion

Discussion You can use CFStringGetMaximumSizeOfFileSystemRepresentation(_:) if you want to make sure the buffer is of sufficient length.

## See Also

### String File System Representations

- [CFStringCreateWithFileSystemRepresentation(_:_:)](corefoundation/cfstringcreatewithfilesystemrepresentation(_:_:).md)
- [CFStringGetMaximumSizeOfFileSystemRepresentation(_:)](corefoundation/cfstringgetmaximumsizeoffilesystemrepresentation(_:).md)