---
name: "closedir"
section: "3"
platform: "linux"
package: "man-pages"
version: "6.19-1"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux", "freebsd"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/closedir"
---

# closedir(3)

close a directory

## NAME

closedir - close a directory

## LIBRARY

Standard C library (*libc*, *-lc*)

## SYNOPSIS

```
#include <sys/types.h>
#include <dirent.h>
```

**int closedir(DIR \****dirp***);**

## DESCRIPTION

The **closedir**() function closes the directory stream associated with *dirp*. A successful call to **closedir**() also closes the underlying file descriptor associated with *dirp*. The directory stream descriptor *dirp* is not available after this call.

## RETURN VALUE

The **closedir**() function returns 0 on success. On error, -1 is returned, and *errno* is set to indicate the error.

## ERRORS

- **EBADF**

  Invalid directory stream descriptor *dirp*.

## ATTRIBUTES

For an explanation of the terms used in this section, see [**attributes**(7)](/attributes/7.md).

| | | |
| --- | --- | --- |
| **Interface** | **Attribute** | **Value** |
| **closedir**() | Thread safety | MT-Safe |

## STANDARDS

POSIX.1-2008.

## HISTORY

POSIX.1-2001, SVr4, 4.3BSD.

## SEE ALSO

[**close**(2)](/close/2.md), [**opendir**(3)](/opendir/3.md), [**readdir**(3)](/readdir/3.md), [**rewinddir**(3)](/rewinddir/3.md), [**scandir**(3)](/scandir/3.md), [**seekdir**(3)](/seekdir/3.md), [**telldir**(3)](/telldir/3.md)