---
name: "explain_acct"
section: "3"
platform: "linux"
package: "libexplain-dev"
version: "1.4.D001-16"
release: "Debian 13 (Trixie)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/explain_acct"
---

# explain\_acct(3)

explain acct(2) errors

## NAME

explain\_acct - explain [acct(2)](/acct/2.md) errors

## SYNOPSIS

\#include \<libexplain/acct.h\>

const char \*explain\_acct(const char \*pathname);\
 const char \*explain\_errno\_acct(int errnum, const char \*pathname);\
 void explain\_message\_acct(char \*message, int message\_size, const char \*pathname);\
 void explain\_message\_errno\_acct(char \*message, int message\_size, int errnum, const char \*pathname);

## DESCRIPTION

These functions may be used to obtain explanations for errors returned by the [*acct*(2)](/acct/2.md) system call.

### explain\_acct

const char \*explain\_acct(const char \*pathname);

The **explain\_acct** function is used to obtain an explanation of an error returned by the [*acct*(2)](/acct/2.md) system call. The least the message will contain is the value of `strerror(errno)`, but usually it will do much better, and indicate the underlying cause in more detail.

The *errno* global variable will be used to obtain the error value to be decoded.

- *pathname*

  The original pathname, exactly as passed to the [*acct*(2)](/acct/2.md) system call.

- Returns:

  The message explaining the error. This message buffer is shared by all libexplain functions which do not supply a buffer in their argument list. This will be overwritten by the next call to any libexplain function which shares this buffer, including other threads.

**Note:** This function is **not** thread safe, because it shares a return buffer across all threads, and many other functions in this library.

**Example:** This function is intended to be used in a fashion similar to the following example:

`if (acct(pathname) < 0)`

```
{
```

`fprintf(stderr, "%s\n", explain_acct(pathname));`

```
    exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
}
```

The above code example is available pre‐packaged as the [*explain\_acct\_or\_die*(3)](/explain_acct_or_die/3.md) function.

### explain\_errno\_acct

const char \*explain\_errno\_acct(int errnum, const char \*pathname);

The **explain\_errno\_acct** function is used to obtain an explanation of an error returned by the [*acct*(2)](/acct/2.md) system call. The least the message will contain is the value of `strerror(errno)`, but usually it will do much better, and indicate the underlying cause in more detail.

- *errnum*

  The error value to be decoded, usually obtained from the *errno* global variable just before this function is called. This is necessary if you need to call **any** code between the system call to be explained and this function, because many libc functions will alter the value of *errno*.

- *pathname*

  The original pathname, exactly as passed to the [*acct*(2)](/acct/2.md) system call.

- Returns:

  The message explaining the error. This message buffer is shared by all libexplain functions which do not supply a buffer in their argument list. This will be overwritten by the next call to any libexplain function which shares this buffer, including other threads.

**Note:** This function is **not** thread safe, because it shares a return buffer across all threads, and many other functions in this library.

**Example:** This function is intended to be used in a fashion similar to the following example:

`if (acct(pathname) < 0)`

```
{
    int err = errno;
```

`fprintf(stderr, "%s\n", explain_errno_acct(err, pathname));`

```
    exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
}
```

The above code example is available pre‐packaged as the [*explain\_acct\_or\_die*(3)](/explain_acct_or_die/3.md) function.

### explain\_message\_acct

void explain\_message\_acct(char \*message, int message\_size, const char \*pathname);

The **explain\_message\_acct** function is used to obtain an explanation of an error returned by the [*acct*(2)](/acct/2.md) system call. The least the message will contain is the value of `strerror(errno)`, but usually it will do much better, and indicate the underlying cause in more detail.

The *errno* global variable will be used to obtain the error value to be decoded.

- *message*

  The location in which to store the returned message. If a suitable message return buffer is supplied, this function is thread safe.

- *message\_size*

  The size in bytes of the location in which to store the returned message.

- *pathname*

  The original pathname, exactly as passed to the [*acct*(2)](/acct/2.md) system call.

**Example:** This function is intended to be used in a fashion similar to the following example:

`if (acct(pathname) < 0)`

```
{
    char message[3000];
```

`explain_message_acct(message, sizeof(message), pathname);`

```
    fprintf(stderr, "%s\n", message);
    exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
}
```

The above code example is available pre‐packaged as the [*explain\_acct\_or\_die*(3)](/explain_acct_or_die/3.md) function.

### explain\_message\_errno\_acct

void explain\_message\_errno\_acct(char \*message, int message\_size, int errnum, const char \*pathname);

The **explain\_message\_errno\_acct** function is used to obtain an explanation of an error returned by the [*acct*(2)](/acct/2.md) system call. The least the message will contain is the value of `strerror(errno)`, but usually it will do much better, and indicate the underlying cause in more detail.

- *message*

  The location in which to store the returned message. If a suitable message return buffer is supplied, this function is thread safe.

- *message\_size*

  The size in bytes of the location in which to store the returned message.

- *errnum*

  The error value to be decoded, usually obtained from the *errno* global variable just before this function is called. This is necessary if you need to call **any** code between the system call to be explained and this function, because many libc functions will alter the value of *errno*.

- *pathname*

  The original pathname, exactly as passed to the [*acct*(2)](/acct/2.md) system call.

**Example:** This function is intended to be used in a fashion similar to the following example:

`if (acct(pathname) < 0)`

```
{
    int err = errno;
    char message[3000];
```

`explain_message_errno_acct(message, sizeof(message), err, pathname);`

```
    fprintf(stderr, "%s\n", message);
    exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
}
```

The above code example is available pre‐packaged as the [*explain\_acct\_or\_die*(3)](/explain_acct_or_die/3.md) function.

## SEE ALSO

- [*acct*(2)](/acct/2.md)

  switch process accounting on or off

- [*explain\_acct\_or\_die*(3)](/explain_acct_or_die/3.md)

  switch process accounting on or off and report errors

## COPYRIGHT

libexplain version 1.4\
 Copyright (C) 2009 Peter Miller