getpwent(3)getpwent(3)Name
getpwent, getpwuid, getpwnam, setpwent, endpwent, setpwfile - get pass‐
word entry
Syntax
#include <pwd.h>
struct passwd *getpwent()
struct passwd *getpwuid(uid)
uid_t uid;
struct passwd *getpwnam(name)
char *name;
void setpwent()
void endpwent()
void setpwfile(pathname)
char *pathname
Description
The routines, and each return a pointer to an object with the following
structure containing the broken-out fields of a line in the password
database:
struct passwd { /* see getpwent(3) */
char *pw_name;
char *pw_passwd;
uid_t pw_uid;
gid_t pw_gid;
int pw_quota;
char *pw_comment;
char *pw_gecos;
char *pw_dir;
char *pw_shell;
};
struct passwd *getpwent(), *getpwuid(), *getpwnam();
The fields pw_quota and pw_comment are unused; the others have meanings
described in
A call to has the effect of rewinding the password file to allow
repeated searches. may be called to close the password database when
processing is complete.
The subroutine simply retrieves the next entry while and search until a
matching uid or name is found (or until all entries are exhausted).
The subroutine keeps a pointer in the database, allowing successive
calls to be used to search the entire database.
A call to must be made before a loop using in order to perform initial‐
ization and an must be used after the loop. Both and make calls to and
The subroutine sets the pathname of the ASCII passwd file and optional
hashed database to be used for local passwd lookups. If a passwd file
has been left open by a call to or will close it first. does not
directly affect the use of distributed passwd databases.
Restrictions
All information is contained in a static area so it must be copied if
it is to be saved.
If YP is running, does not return the entries in any particular order.
See the Guide to the Yellow Pages Service for setup information.
The password database may also be distributed via the BIND/Hesiod nam‐
ing service. See the Guide to the BIND/Hesiod Service for more infor‐
mation.
Return Values
Null pointer (0) returned on EOF or error.
FilesSee Alsogetlogin(3), passwd(5), svc.conf(5)
Guide to the BIND/Hesiod Service
Guide to the Yellow Pages Service
getpwent(3)
