strerror (3p) - Linux Manuals

strerror: get error message string

PROLOG

This manual page is part of the POSIX Programmer's Manual. The Linux implementation of this interface may differ (consult the corresponding Linux manual page for details of Linux behavior), or the interface may not be implemented on Linux.

NAME

strerror, strerror_r - get error message string

SYNOPSIS

#include <string.h>

char *strerror(int errnum);

int strerror_r(int errnum, char *strerrbuf, size_t buflen);

DESCRIPTION

For strerror(): The functionality described on this reference page is aligned with the ISO C standard. Any conflict between the requirements described here and the ISO C standard is unintentional. This volume of IEEE Std 1003.1-2001 defers to the ISO C standard.

The strerror() function shall map the error number in errnum to a locale-dependent error message string and shall return a pointer to it. Typically, the values for errnum come from errno, but strerror() shall map any value of type int to a message.

The string pointed to shall not be modified by the application, but may be overwritten by a subsequent call to strerror()  or perror().

The contents of the error message strings returned by strerror() should be determined by the setting of the LC_MESSAGES category in the current locale.

The implementation shall behave as if no function defined in this volume of IEEE Std 1003.1-2001 calls strerror().

The strerror() function shall not change the setting of errno if successful.

Since no return value is reserved to indicate an error, an application wishing to check for error situations should set errno to 0, then call strerror(), then check errno.

The strerror() function need not be reentrant. A function that is not required to be reentrant is not required to be thread-safe.

The strerror_r() function shall map the error number in errnum to a locale-dependent error message string and shall return the string in the buffer pointed to by strerrbuf, with length buflen.

RETURN VALUE

Upon successful completion, strerror() shall return a pointer to the generated message string. On error errno may be set, but no return value is reserved to indicate an error.

Upon successful completion, strerror_r() shall return 0. Otherwise, an error number shall be returned to indicate the error.

ERRORS

These functions may fail if:

EINVAL

The value of errnum is not a valid error number.

The strerror_r() function may fail if:

ERANGE

Insufficient storage was supplied via strerrbuf and buflen to contain the generated message string.

The following sections are informative.

EXAMPLES

None.

APPLICATION USAGE

None.

RATIONALE

None.

FUTURE DIRECTIONS

None.

COPYRIGHT

Portions of this text are reprinted and reproduced in electronic form from IEEE Std 1003.1, 2003 Edition, Standard for Information Technology -- Portable Operating System Interface (POSIX), The Open Group Base Specifications Issue 6, Copyright (C) 2001-2003 by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc and The Open Group. In the event of any discrepancy between this version and the original IEEE and The Open Group Standard, the original IEEE and The Open Group Standard is the referee document. The original Standard can be obtained online at http://www.opengroup.org/unix/online.html .