ENDGRENT(P) POSIX Programmer's Manual ENDGRENT(P)NAME
endgrent, getgrent, setgrent - group database entry functions
SYNOPSIS
#include <grp.h>
void endgrent(void);
struct group *getgrent(void);
void setgrent(void);
DESCRIPTION
The getgrent() function shall return a pointer to a structure contain‐
ing the broken-out fields of an entry in the group database. When first
called, getgrent() shall return a pointer to a group structure contain‐
ing the first entry in the group database. Thereafter, it shall return
a pointer to a group structure containing the next group structure in
the group database, so successive calls may be used to search the
entire database.
An implementation that provides extended security controls may impose
further implementation-defined restrictions on accessing the group
database. In particular, the system may deny the existence of some or
all of the group database entries associated with groups other than
those groups associated with the caller and may omit users other than
the caller from the list of members of groups in database entries that
are returned.
The setgrent() function shall rewind the group database to allow
repeated searches.
The endgrent() function may be called to close the group database when
processing is complete.
These functions need not be reentrant. A function that is not required
to be reentrant is not required to be thread-safe.
RETURN VALUE
When first called, getgrent() shall return a pointer to the first group
structure in the group database. Upon subsequent calls it shall return
the next group structure in the group database. The getgrent() func‐
tion shall return a null pointer on end-of-file or an error and errno
may be set to indicate the error.
The return value may point to a static area which is overwritten by a
subsequent call to getgrgid(), getgrnam(), or getgrent().
ERRORS
The getgrent() function may fail if:
EINTR A signal was caught during the operation.
EIO An I/O error has occurred.
EMFILE {OPEN_MAX} file descriptors are currently open in the calling
process.
ENFILE The maximum allowable number of files is currently open in the
system.
The following sections are informative.
EXAMPLES
None.
APPLICATION USAGE
These functions are provided due to their historical usage. Applica‐
tions should avoid dependencies on fields in the group database,
whether the database is a single file, or where in the file system name
space the database resides. Applications should use getgrnam() and get‐
grgid() whenever possible because it avoids these dependencies.
RATIONALE
None.
FUTURE DIRECTIONS
None.
SEE ALSOgetgrgid() , getgrnam() , getlogin() , getpwent() , the Base Defini‐
tions volume of IEEE Std 1003.1-2001, <grp.h>
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 .
IEEE/The Open Group 2003 ENDGRENT(P)
