---
name: "explain_readdir_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_readdir_or_die"
---

# explain\_readdir\_or\_die(3)

read directory entry and report errors

## NAME

explain\_readdir\_or\_die - read directory entry and report errors

## SYNOPSIS

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

struct dirent \*explain\_readdir\_or\_die(DIR \*dir);

## DESCRIPTION

The **explain\_readdir\_or\_die** function is used to call the [*readdir*(2)](/readdir/2.md) system call.  On failure an explanation will be printed to *stderr*, obtained from [*explain\_readdir*(3)](/explain_readdir/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_readdir_or_die(dir);
```

- *dir*

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

- Returns:

  a pointer to a dirent structure, or NULL if end‐of‐file is reached. On failure, prints an explanation and exits.

## SEE ALSO

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

  read directory entry

- [*explain\_readdir*(3)](/explain_readdir/3.md)

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

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

  terminate the calling process

## COPYRIGHT

libexplain version 1.4\
 Copyright (C) 2008 Peter Miller