:relfileprefix: ../../../../ [#boost-urls-string_token-arg-prepare] = xref:boost.adoc[pass:[boost]]::xref:boost/urls.adoc[pass:[urls]]::xref:boost/urls/string_token.adoc[pass:[string_token]]::xref:boost/urls/string_token/arg.adoc[pass:[arg]]::prepare Return a modifiable character buffer == Synopsis Declared in header `` [source,cpp,subs="verbatim,macros,-callouts"] ---- virtual char* prepare(xref:std.adoc[std]::size_t n) = 0; ---- == Description This function attempts to obtain a character buffer with space for at least `n` characters. Upon success, a pointer to the beginning of the buffer is returned. Ownership is not transferred; the caller should not attempt to free the storage. The buffer shall remain valid until `this` is destroyed. [NOTE] This function may only be called once. After invoking the function, the only valid operation is destruction.