fread

FREAD(3)                   Linux Programmer's Manual                  FREAD(3)



NAME
       fread, fwrite - binary stream input/output

SYNOPSIS
       #include <stdio.h>

       size_t fread(void *ptr, size_t size, size_t nmemb, FILE *stream);

       size_t   fwrite(const  void  *ptr,  size_t  size,  size_t  nmemb,  FILE
       *stream);

DESCRIPTION
       The function fread reads nmemb elements of data, each size bytes  long,
       from  the  stream  pointed  to  by stream, storing them at the location
       given by ptr.

       The function fwrite writes nmemb elements  of  data,  each  size  bytes
       long, to the stream pointed to by stream, obtaining them from the loca-
       tion given by ptr.

       For non-locking counterparts, see unlocked_stdio(3).

RETURN VALUE
       fread and fwrite return the number of items successfully read or  writ-
       ten  (i.e.,  not the number of characters).  If an error occurs, or the
       end-of-file is reached, the return value is  a  short  item  count  (or
       zero).

       fread  does  not distinguish between end-of-file and error, and callers
       must use feof(3) and ferror(3) to determine which occurred.

CONFORMING TO
       The functions fread and fwrite  conform  to  ANSI  X3.159-1989  (``ANSI
       C'').

SEE ALSO
       read(2), write(2), feof(3), ferror(3), unlocked_stdio(3)



BSD MANPAGE                       1996-05-17                          FREAD(3)