q

int query_len = end_query_ptr - query_ptr;
char query[ query_len + 1];
// if query pointer has something in it string copy
if (query_ptr != NULL )
{
    strncpy(query,query_ptr,query_len);
}
// else set query array to one byte
else
{
    query[0] = '\0'; <---------------- any hints on how to be thinking here ?
}