Standard C function names -

is there rationale abbreviated way standard c functions written? example, malloc short 'memory allocation'. sprintf 'string print formatted'. neither of these names @ telling function does. never occurred me how terrible of these abbreviated function names until when had teach new intern many of these functions.

when language being developed, there reason malloc() chosen on memallocate() or similar? best guess more closely resemble unix commands, doesn't feel right answer.

check out http://publications.gbdirect.co.uk/c_book/chapter2/keywords_and_identifiers.html -

the problem there never guarantee more number of characters checked when names compared equality—in old c 8 characters, in standard c has changed 31.

basically, in past (long while back) count on the first 8 characters uniqueness in function name. so, end bunch of short names core functions.