---
name: "explain_mount_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_mount_or_die"
---

# explain\_mount\_or\_die(3)

mount file system and report errors

## NAME

explain\_mount\_or\_die - mount file system and report errors

## SYNOPSIS

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

void explain\_mount\_or\_die(const char \*source, const char \*target, const char \*file\_systems\_type, unsigned long flags, const void \*data);\
 int explain\_mount\_on\_error(const char \*source, const char \*target, const char \*file\_systems\_type, unsigned long flags, const void \*data);

## DESCRIPTION

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

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

- *source*

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

- *target*

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

- *file\_systems\_type*

  The file\_systems\_type, exactly as to be passed to the [*mount*(2)](/mount/2.md) system call.

- *flags*

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

- *data*

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

## RETURN VALUE

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

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

## EXAMPLE

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

```
explain_mount_or_die(source, target, file_systems_type, flags, data);
```

## SEE ALSO

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

  mount file system

- [*explain\_mount*(3)](/explain_mount/3.md)

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

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

  terminate the calling process

## COPYRIGHT

libexplain version 1.4\
 Copyright (C) 2013 Peter Miller