---
name: "acl_error"
section: "3"
platform: "linux"
package: "acl"
version: "2.4.0-1"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/acl_error"
---

# acl\_error(3)

convert an ACL error code to a text message

## NAME

**acl\_error** – convert an ACL error code to a text message

## LIBRARY

Linux Access Control Lists library (libacl, -lacl).

## SYNOPSIS

**#include \<sys/types.h\>**

**#include \<acl/libacl.h\>**

*const* *char* *\**\

**acl\_error**(*int code*);

## DESCRIPTION

The **acl\_error**() function converts an ACL error code such as returned by the **acl\_check**() function to a text message describing the error condition. In the “POSIX” locale, **acl\_check**() returns the following descriptions for the error codes.

- ACL\_MULTI\_ERROR

  “Multiple entries”

- ACL\_DUPLICATE\_ERROR

  “Duplicate entries”

- ACL\_MISS\_ERROR

  “Missing or wrong entry”

- ACL\_ENTRY\_ERROR

  “Invalid entry type”

## RETURN VALUE

The **acl\_error**() function returns a text message if the error code is recognized, and a value of (const char \*)NULL otherwise.

## STANDARDS

This is a non-portable, Linux specific extension to the ACL manipulation functions defined in IEEE Std 1003.1e draft 17 (“POSIX.1e”, abandoned).

## SEE ALSO

[acl\_check(3)](/acl_check/3.md), [acl\_valid(3)](/acl_valid/3.md), [acl(5)](/acl/5.md)

## AUTHOR

Written by Andreas Gruenbacher ⟨andreas.gruenbacher@gmail.com⟩.