read

Syntax

#include <unistd.h> ssize_t read(int fd, void *buffer, size_t length);

Description

This function reads at most length bytes from file fd into buffer. Note that in some cases, such as end-of-file conditions and text files, it may read less than the requested number of bytes. At end-of-file, read will read exactly zero bytes.

Directories cannot be read using read -- use readdir instead.

Return Value

The number of bytes read, zero meaning end-of-file, or -1 for an error.

Portability

ANSI/ISO C	No
POSIX	1003.2-1992; 1003.1-2001

Example

char buf[10]; int r = read(0, buf, 10);