lseek#

Synopsis#

#include <unistd.h>

off_t lseek(int fildes, off_t offset, int whence);

Status#

Partially implemented

Conformance#

IEEE Std 1003.1-2017

Description#

The lseek() function shall set the file offset for the open file description associated with the file descriptor fildes, as follows:

  • If whence is SEEK_SET, the file offset shall be set to offset bytes.

  • If whence is SEEK_CUR, the file offset shall be set to its current location plus offset.

  • If whence is SEEK_END, the file offset shall be set to the size of the file plus offset.

The symbolic constants SEEK_SET, SEEK_CUR, and SEEK_END are defined in <unistd.h>.

The behavior of lseek() on devices which are incapable of seeking is implementation-defined. The value of the file offset associated with such a device is undefined.

The lseek() function shall allow the file offset to be set beyond the end of the existing data in the file. If data is later written at this point, subsequent reads of data in the gap shall return bytes with the value 0 until data is actually written into the gap.

The lseek() function shall not, by itself, extend the size of a file.

If fildes refers to a shared memory object, the result of the lseek() function is unspecified.

If fildes refers to a typed memory object, the result of the lseek() function is unspecified.

Return value#

Upon successful completion, the resulting offset, as measured in bytes from the beginning of the file, shall be returned.

Otherwise, -1 shall be returned, errno shall be set to indicate the error, and the file offset shall remain unchanged.

Errors#

The lseek() function shall fail if:

  • EBADF - The fildes argument is not an open file descriptor.

  • EINVAL - The whence argument is not a proper value, or the resulting file offset would be negative for a regular file, block special file, or directory.

  • EOVERFLOW - The resulting file offset would be a value which cannot be represented correctly in an object of type off_t.

  • ESPIPE - The fildes argument is associated with a pipe, FIFO, or socket.

Tests#

Untested

Known bugs#

None

See Also#

  1. Standard library functions

  2. Table of Contents