---
name: "explain_lseek_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_lseek_or_die"
---

# explain\_lseek\_or\_die(3)

reposition file offset and report errors

## NAME

explain\_lseek\_or\_die - reposition file offset and report errors

## SYNOPSIS

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

long long explain\_lseek\_or\_die(int fildes, long long offset, int whence);

## DESCRIPTION

The **explain\_lseek\_or\_die** function is used to call the [*lseek*(2)](/lseek/2.md) system call.  On failure an explanation will be printed to *stderr*, obtained from [*explain\_lseek*(3)](/explain_lseek/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:

```
long long result = explain_lseek_or_die(fildes, offset, whence);
```

- *fildes*

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

- *offset*

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

- *whence*

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

- Returns:

  On successful, returns the resulting offset location as measured in bytes from the beginning of the file.  On failure, prints an explanation and exits.

## SEE ALSO

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

  reposition file offset

- [*explain\_lseek*(3)](/explain_lseek/3.md)

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

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

  terminate the calling process

## COPYRIGHT

libexplain version 1.4\
 Copyright (C) 2008 Peter Miller