---
name: "explain_opendir_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_opendir_or_die"
---

# explain\_opendir\_or\_die(3)

open a directory and report errors

## NAME

explain\_opendir\_or\_die - open a directory and report errors

## SYNOPSIS

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

DIR \*explain\_opendir\_or\_die(const char \*pathname);

## DESCRIPTION

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

```
DIR *dir = explain_opendir_or_die(pathname);
```

- *pathname*

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

- Returns:

  On success, a pointer to the directory stream. On failure, prints an explanation and exits, does not return.

## SEE ALSO

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

  open a directory

- [*explain\_opendir*(3)](/explain_opendir/3.md)

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

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

  terminate the calling process

## COPYRIGHT

libexplain version 1.4\
 Copyright (C) 2008 Peter Miller