---
name: "explain_fread_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_fread_or_die"
---

# explain\_fread\_or\_die(3)

binary stream input and report errors

## NAME

explain\_fread\_or\_die - binary stream input and report errors

## SYNOPSIS

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

void explain\_fread\_or\_die(void \*ptr, size\_t size, size\_t nmemb, FILE \*fp);

## DESCRIPTION

The **explain\_fread\_or\_die** function is used to call the [*fread*(3)](/fread/3.md) system call.  On failure an explanation will be printed to *stderr*, obtained from [*explain\_fread*(3)](/explain_fread/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:

```
size_t how_many = explain_fread_or_die(ptr, size, nmemb, fp);
```

- *ptr*

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

- *size*

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

- *nmemb*

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

- *fp*

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

- Returns:

  This function only returns on success, the number read or 0 on end‐of‐input. On failure, prints an explanation and exits.

## SEE ALSO

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

  binary stream input

- [*explain\_fread*(3)](/explain_fread/3.md)

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

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

  terminate the calling process

## COPYRIGHT

libexplain version 1.4\
 Copyright (C) 2008 Peter Miller