---
name: "explain_fchownat_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_fchownat_or_die"
---

# explain\_fchownat\_or\_die(3)

change ownership of a file relative to a directory and report errors

## NAME

explain\_fchownat\_or\_die - change ownership of a file relative to a directory     and report errors

## SYNOPSIS

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

void explain\_fchownat\_or\_die(int dirfd, const char \*pathname, int owner, int group, int flags);\
 int explain\_fchownat\_on\_error(int dirfd, const char \*pathname, int owner, int group, int flags);

## DESCRIPTION

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

The **explain\_fchownat\_on\_error** function is used to call the [*fchownat*(2)](/fchownat/2.md) system call. On failure an explanation will be printed to *stderr*, obtained from the [*explain\_fchownat*(3)](/explain_fchownat/3.md) function, but still returns to the caller.

- *dirfd*

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

- *pathname*

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

- *owner*

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

- *group*

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

- *flags*

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

## RETURN VALUE

The **explain\_fchownat\_or\_die** function only returns on success, see [*fchownat*(2)](/fchownat/2.md) for more information. On failure, prints an explanation and exits, it does not return.

The **explain\_fchownat\_on\_error** function always returns the value return by the wrapped [*fchownat*(2)](/fchownat/2.md) system call.

## EXAMPLE

The **explain\_fchownat\_or\_die** function is intended to be used in a fashion similar to the following example:

```
explain_fchownat_or_die(dirfd, pathname, owner, group, flags);
```

## SEE ALSO

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

  change ownership of a file relative to a directory

- [*explain\_fchownat*(3)](/explain_fchownat/3.md)

  explain [*fchownat*(2)](/fchownat/2.md) errors

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

  terminate the calling process

## COPYRIGHT

libexplain version 1.4\
 Copyright (C) 2013 Peter Miller