---
name: "ares_parse_ns_reply"
section: "3"
platform: "linux"
package: "c-ares"
version: "1.34.9-1"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/ares_parse_ns_reply"
---

# ares\_parse\_ns\_reply(3)

Parse a reply to a DNS query of type NS into a hostent

## NAME

ares\_parse\_ns\_reply - Parse a reply to a DNS query of type NS into a hostent

## SYNOPSIS

```
#include <ares.h>
int ares_parse_ns_reply(const unsigned char *abuf, int alen,
                        struct hostent **host);
```

## DESCRIPTION

The **ares\_parse\_ns\_reply** function parses the response to a query of type NS into a **struct hostent**. The parameters *abuf* and *alen* give the contents of the response.  The result is stored in allocated memory and a pointer to it stored into the variable pointed to by *host*. The nameservers are stored into the  **aliases** field of the  *host* structure.  It is the caller's responsibility to free the resulting host structure using [**ares\_free\_hostent**(3)](/ares_free_hostent/3.md) when it is no longer needed.

## RETURN VALUES

**ares\_parse\_ns\_reply** can return any of the following values:

- **ARES\_SUCCESS**

  The response was successfully parsed.

- **ARES\_EBADRESP**

  The response was malformatted.

- **ARES\_ENODATA**

  The response did not contain an answer to the query.

- **ARES\_ENOMEM**

  Memory was exhausted.

## SEE ALSO

[**ares\_query**(3)](/ares_query/3.md), [**ares\_free\_hostent**(3)](/ares_free_hostent/3.md)