I have run into some code and was wondering what the original developer was up to. Below is a simplified program using this pattern:

      #include <stdio.h>

      int main()  {     

      char title[80] = "mytitle";      
      char title2[80] = "mayataiatale";      
      char mystring[80]; 

      /* hugh ? */
      sscanf(title,"%[^a]",mystring);
      printf("%s\n",mystring); /* Output is "mytitle" */


      /* hugh ? */
      sscanf(title2,"%[^a]",mystring); /* Output is "m" */
      printf("%s\n",mystring);


      return 0;  
  }

The man page for scanf has relevant information, but I'm having trouble reading it. What is the purpose of using this sort of notation? What is it trying to accomplish?

c scanf format-specifiers
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