---
name: "endprotoent"
section: "3"
platform: "freebsd"
package: "base"
version: "16.0-CURRENT-20261027-61c70dc16a79"
release: "FreeBSD 16.0-CURRENT (2026-10-27)"
platforms: ["linux", "freebsd"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/endprotoent"
---

# endprotoent(3)

get protocol entry

## NAME

**getprotoent**, **getprotobynumber**, **getprotobyname**, **setprotoent**, **endprotoent** – get protocol entry

## LIBRARY

Standard C Library (libc, -lc)

## SYNOPSIS

**#include \<netdb.h\>**

*struct* *protoent* *\**\

**getprotoent**(*void*);

*struct* *protoent* *\**\

**getprotobyname**(*const char \*name*);

*struct* *protoent* *\**\

**getprotobynumber**(*int proto*);

*void*\

**setprotoent**(*int stayopen*);

*void*\

**endprotoent**(*void*);

## DESCRIPTION

The **getprotoent**(), **getprotobyname**(), and **getprotobynumber**() functions each return a pointer to an object with the following structure containing the broken-out fields of a line in the network protocol data base, */etc/protocols*.

```
struct protoent {
	char	*p_name;	/* official name of protocol */
	char	**p_aliases;	/* alias list */
	int	p_proto;	/* protocol number */
};
```

The members of this structure are:

- *p\_name*

  The official name of the protocol.

- *p\_aliases*

  A zero terminated list of alternate names for the protocol.

- *p\_proto*

  The protocol number.

The **getprotoent**() function reads the next line of the file, opening the file if necessary.

The **setprotoent**() function opens and rewinds the file. If the *stayopen* flag is non-zero, the net data base will not be closed after each call to **getprotobyname**() or **getprotobynumber**().

The **endprotoent**() function closes the file.

The **getprotobyname**() function and **getprotobynumber**() sequentially search from the beginning of the file until a matching protocol name or protocol number is found, or until EOF is encountered.

## RETURN VALUES

Null pointer returned on EOF or error.

## FILES

- */etc/protocols*

  ## SEE ALSO

[protocols(5)](/protocols/5.md)

## HISTORY

The **getprotoent**(), **getprotobynumber**(), **getprotobyname**(), **setprotoent**(), and **endprotoent**() functions appeared in 4.2BSD.

## BUGS

These functions use a thread-specific data space; if the data is needed for future use, it should be copied before any subsequent calls overwrite it. Only the Internet protocols are currently understood.