If s is already NUL-terminated, $cStr copies it into area if it is not already in area, then returns a STRING descriptor for the (copied) STRING. Otherwise, it appends a NUL character to s (which has the side effect of copying s into area) and returns the resulting STRING.

area defaults to $defaultArea. Use an anchored area if the CHARADR of the resulting STRING is to be passed to a foreign language and retained over execution of MAINSAIL code that could cause memory management.