---
name: "explain_setgid"
section: "3"
platform: "linux"
package: "libexplain-dev"
version: "1.4.D001-16"
release: "Debian 13 (Trixie)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/explain_setgid"
---

# explain\_setgid(3)

explain setgid(2) errors

## NAME

explain\_setgid - explain [*setgid*(2)](/setgid/2.md) errors

## SYNOPSIS

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

const char \*explain\_setgid(gid\_t gid);\
 const char \*explain\_errno\_setgid(int errnum, gid\_t gid);\
 void explain\_message\_setgid(char \*message, int message\_size, gid\_t gid);\
 void explain\_message\_errno\_setgid(char \*message, int message\_size, int errnum, gid\_t gid);

## DESCRIPTION

These functions may be used to obtain explanations for errors returned by the [*setgid*(2)](/setgid/2.md) system call.

### explain\_setgid

const char \*explain\_setgid(gid\_t gid);

The **explain\_setgid** function is used to obtain an explanation of an error returned by the [*setgid*(2)](/setgid/2.md) system call. The least the message will contain is the value of `strerror(errno)`, but usually it will do much better, and indicate the underlying cause in more detail.

The *errno* global variable will be used to obtain the error value to be decoded.

- *gid*

  The original gid, exactly as passed to the [*setgid*(2)](/setgid/2.md) system call.

- Returns:

  The message explaining the error. This message buffer is shared by all libexplain functions which do not supply a buffer in their argument list. This will be overwritten by the next call to any libexplain function which shares this buffer, including other threads.

**Note:** This function is **not** thread safe, because it shares a return buffer across all threads, and many other functions in this library.

**Example:** This function is intended to be used in a fashion similar to the following example:

`if (setgid(gid) < 0)`

```
{
```

`fprintf(stderr, "%s\n", explain_setgid(gid));`

```
    exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
}
```

The above code example is available pre-packaged as the [*explain\_setgid\_or\_die*(3)](/explain_setgid_or_die/3.md) function.

### explain\_errno\_setgid

const char \*explain\_errno\_setgid(int errnum, gid\_t gid);

The **explain\_errno\_setgid** function is used to obtain an explanation of an error returned by the [*setgid*(2)](/setgid/2.md) system call. The least the message will contain is the value of `strerror(errno)`, but usually it will do much better, and indicate the underlying cause in more detail.

- *errnum*

  The error value to be decoded, usually obtained from the *errno* global variable just before this function is called. This is necessary if you need to call **any** code between the system call to be explained and this function, because many libc functions will alter the value of *errno*.

- *gid*

  The original gid, exactly as passed to the [*setgid*(2)](/setgid/2.md) system call.

- Returns:

  The message explaining the error. This message buffer is shared by all libexplain functions which do not supply a buffer in their argument list. This will be overwritten by the next call to any libexplain function which shares this buffer, including other threads.

**Note:** This function is **not** thread safe, because it shares a return buffer across all threads, and many other functions in this library.

**Example:** This function is intended to be used in a fashion similar to the following example:

`if (setgid(gid) < 0)`

```
{
    int err = errno;
```

`fprintf(stderr, "%s\n", explain_errno_setgid(err, gid));`

```
    exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
}
```

The above code example is available pre-packaged as the [*explain\_setgid\_or\_die*(3)](/explain_setgid_or_die/3.md) function.

### explain\_message\_setgid

void explain\_message\_setgid(char \*message, int message\_size, gid\_t gid);

The **explain\_message\_setgid** function is used to obtain an explanation of an error returned by the [*setgid*(2)](/setgid/2.md) system call. The least the message will contain is the value of `strerror(errno)`, but usually it will do much better, and indicate the underlying cause in more detail.

The *errno* global variable will be used to obtain the error value to be decoded.

- *message*

  The location in which to store the returned message. If a suitable message return buffer is supplied, this function is thread safe.

- *message\_size*

  The size in bytes of the location in which to store the returned message.

- *gid*

  The original gid, exactly as passed to the [*setgid*(2)](/setgid/2.md) system call.

**Example:** This function is intended to be used in a fashion similar to the following example:

`if (setgid(gid) < 0)`

```
{
    char message[3000];
```

`explain_message_setgid(message, sizeof(message), gid);`

```
    fprintf(stderr, "%s\n", message);
    exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
}
```

The above code example is available pre-packaged as the [*explain\_setgid\_or\_die*(3)](/explain_setgid_or_die/3.md) function.

### explain\_message\_errno\_setgid

void explain\_message\_errno\_setgid(char \*message, int message\_size, int errnum, gid\_t gid);

The **explain\_message\_errno\_setgid** function is used to obtain an explanation of an error returned by the [*setgid*(2)](/setgid/2.md) system call. The least the message will contain is the value of `strerror(errno)`, but usually it will do much better, and indicate the underlying cause in more detail.

- *message*

  The location in which to store the returned message. If a suitable message return buffer is supplied, this function is thread safe.

- *message\_size*

  The size in bytes of the location in which to store the returned message.

- *errnum*

  The error value to be decoded, usually obtained from the *errno* global variable just before this function is called. This is necessary if you need to call **any** code between the system call to be explained and this function, because many libc functions will alter the value of *errno*.

- *gid*

  The original gid, exactly as passed to the [*setgid*(2)](/setgid/2.md) system call.

**Example:** This function is intended to be used in a fashion similar to the following example:

`if (setgid(gid) < 0)`

```
{
    int err = errno;
    char message[3000];
```

`explain_message_errno_setgid(message, sizeof(message), err, gid);`

```
    fprintf(stderr, "%s\n", message);
    exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
}
```

The above code example is available pre-packaged as the [*explain\_setgid\_or\_die*(3)](/explain_setgid_or_die/3.md) function.

## SEE ALSO

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

  set group identity

- [*explain\_setgid\_or\_die*(3)](/explain_setgid_or_die/3.md)

  set group identity and report errors

## COPYRIGHT

libexplain version 1.4\
 Copyright (C) 2012 Peter Miller