---
name: "CURLOPT_DIRLISTONLY"
section: "3"
platform: "macos"
package: "curl"
version: "166.0.0.0.1"
release: "macOS 26.5"
platforms: ["linux", "macos"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/CURLOPT_DIRLISTONLY"
---

# CURLOPT\_DIRLISTONLY(3)

ask for names only in a directory listing

## NAME

CURLOPT\_DIRLISTONLY - ask for names only in a directory listing

## SYNOPSIS

```
#include <curl/curl.h>
CURLcode curl_easy_setopt(CURL *handle, CURLOPT_DIRLISTONLY, long listonly);
```

## DESCRIPTION

For FTP and SFTP based URLs a parameter set to 1 tells the library to list the names of files in a directory, rather than performing a full directory listing that would normally include file sizes, dates etc.

For POP3 a parameter of 1 tells the library to list the email message or messages on the POP3 server. This can be used to change the default behavior of libcurl, when combined with a URL that contains a message ID, to perform a "scan listing" which can then be used to determine the size of an email.

Note: For FTP this causes a NLST command to be sent to the FTP server. Beware that some FTP servers list only files in their response to NLST; they might not include subdirectories and symbolic links.

Setting this option to 1 also implies a directory listing even if the URL does not end with a slash, which otherwise is necessary.

Do not use this option if you also use *[CURLOPT\_WILDCARDMATCH(3)](/CURLOPT_WILDCARDMATCH/3.md)* as it effectively breaks that feature.

## DEFAULT

0, disabled

## PROTOCOLS

FTP, SFTP and POP3

## EXAMPLE

```
int main(void)
{
  CURL *curl = curl_easy_init();
  if(curl) {
    CURLcode res;
    curl_easy_setopt(curl, CURLOPT_URL, "ftp://example.com/dir/");
    /* list only */
    curl_easy_setopt(curl, CURLOPT_DIRLISTONLY, 1L);
    res = curl_easy_perform(curl);
    curl_easy_cleanup(curl);
  }
}
```

## AVAILABILITY

This option was known as CURLOPT\_FTPLISTONLY up to 7.16.4. POP3 is supported since 7.21.5.

## RETURN VALUE

Returns CURLE\_OK if the option is supported, and CURLE\_UNKNOWN\_OPTION if not.

## SEE ALSO

[**CURLOPT\_CUSTOMREQUEST**(3)](/CURLOPT_CUSTOMREQUEST/3.md), [**CURLOPT\_WILDCARDMATCH**(3)](/CURLOPT_WILDCARDMATCH/3.md)