---
name: "explain_select_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_select_or_die"
---

# explain\_select\_or\_die(3)

blah blah and report errors

## NAME

explain\_select\_or\_die - blah blah and report errors

## SYNOPSIS

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

void explain\_select\_or\_die(int nfds, fd\_set \*readfds, fd\_set \*writefds, fd\_set \*exceptfds, struct timeval \*timeout);

## DESCRIPTION

The **explain\_select\_or\_die** function is used to call the [*select*(2)](/select/2.md) system call.  On failure an explanation will be printed to *stderr*, obtained from [*explain\_select*(3)](/explain_select/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_select_or_die(nfds, readfds, writefds, exceptfds, timeout);
```

- *nfds*

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

- *readfds*

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

- *writefds*

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

- *exceptfds*

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

- *timeout*

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

- Returns:

  This function only returns on success. On failure, prints an explanation and exits.

## SEE ALSO

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

  blah blah

- [*explain\_select*(3)](/explain_select/3.md)

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

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

  terminate the calling process

## COPYRIGHT

libexplain version 1.4\
 Copyright (C) 2008 Peter Miller