---
name: "SSL_state_string"
section: "3ssl"
platform: "linux"
package: "openssl"
version: "3.6.5-1"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/SSL_state_string"
---

# SSL\_state\_string(3ssl)

get textual description of state of an SSL object

## NAME

SSL\_state\_string, SSL\_state\_string\_long - get textual description of state of an SSL object

## SYNOPSIS

```
 #include <openssl/ssl.h>
 const char *SSL_state_string(const SSL *ssl);
 const char *SSL_state_string_long(const SSL *ssl);
```

## DESCRIPTION

**SSL\_state\_string()** returns an abbreviated string indicating the current state of the SSL object **ssl**. The returned NUL-terminated string contains 6 or fewer characters.

**SSL\_state\_string\_long()** returns a descriptive string indicating the current state of the SSL object **ssl**.

## NOTES

During its use, an SSL objects passes several states. The state is internally maintained. Querying the state information is not very informative before or when a connection has been established. It however can be of significant interest during the handshake.

When using nonblocking sockets, the function call performing the handshake may return with SSL\_ERROR\_WANT\_READ or SSL\_ERROR\_WANT\_WRITE condition, so that SSL\_state\_string\[\_long\]() may be called.

For both blocking or nonblocking sockets, the details state information can be used within the info\_callback function set with the **SSL\_set\_info\_callback()** call.

## RETURN VALUES

Detailed description of possible states to be included later.

## SEE ALSO

[**ssl**(7)](/ssl/7.md), **SSL\_CTX\_set\_info\_callback**(3)

## COPYRIGHT

Copyright 2001-2021 The OpenSSL Project Authors. All Rights Reserved.

Licensed under the Apache License 2.0 (the "License").  You may not use this file except in compliance with the License.  You can obtain a copy in the file LICENSE in the source distribution or at \<https://www.openssl.org/source/license.html\>.