---
name: "explain_ferror_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_ferror_or_die"
---

# explain\_ferror\_or\_die(3)

check stream status and report errors

## NAME

explain\_ferror\_or\_die - check stream status and report errors

## SYNOPSIS

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

void explain\_ferror\_or\_die(FILE \*fp);

## DESCRIPTION

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

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

```
explain_ferror_or_die(fp);
```

It is essential that this function cal be placed as close as possible to the I/O code that has caused the problem, otherwise intervening code could have altered the *errno* global variable.

- *fp*

  The fp, exactly as to be passed to the [*ferror*(3)](/ferror/3.md) system call.

- Returns:

  This function only returns on success. On failure, prints an explanation and exits.

## SEE ALSO

- [*ferror*(3)](/ferror/3.md)

  check stream status

- [*explain\_ferror*(3)](/explain_ferror/3.md)

  explain [*ferror*(3)](/ferror/3.md) errors

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

  terminate the calling process

## COPYRIGHT

libexplain version 1.4\
 Copyright (C) 2008 Peter Miller