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

# explain\_chmod\_or\_die(3)

change permissions of a file and report errors

## NAME

explain\_chmod\_or\_die - change permissions of a file and report errors

## SYNOPSIS

\#include \<libexplain/chmod.h\>\
 void explain\_chmod\_or\_die(const char \*pathname, int mode);

## DESCRIPTION

The explain\_chmod\_or\_die function is used to call the [*chmod*(2)](/chmod/2.md) system call.  On failure an explanation will be printed to stderr, obtained from [*explain\_chmod*(3)](/explain_chmod/3.md), and the the process terminates by calling `exit(EXIT_FAILURE)`.

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

```
explain_chmod_or_die(pathname, mode);
```

- *pathname*

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

- *mode*

  The mode, exactly as to be passed to the [*chmod*(2)](/chmod/2.md) system call.

- Returns:

  This function only returns on success. On failure, prints an explanation and exit(EXIT\_FAILURE)s.

## COPYRIGHT

libexplain version 1.4\
 Copyright (C) 2008 Peter Miller

## AUTHOR

Written by Peter Miller \<pmiller@opensource.org.au\>