---
name: "fclose"
section: "3"
platform: "macos"
package: "Libc"
version: "1752.120.2"
release: "macOS 26.5"
platforms: ["linux", "freebsd", "macos"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/fclose"
---

# fclose(3)

close a stream

## NAME

**fclose**, **fcloseall** – close a stream

## LIBRARY

Standard C Library (libc, -lc)

## SYNOPSIS

**#include \<stdio.h\>**

*int*\

**fclose**(*FILE \*stream*);

*void*\

**fcloseall**(*void*);

## DESCRIPTION

The **fclose**() function dissociates the named *stream* from its underlying file or set of functions. If the stream was being used for output, any buffered data is written first, using [fflush(3)](/fflush/3.md).

The **fcloseall**() function calls **fclose**() on all open streams.

## RETURN VALUES

Upon successful completion 0 is returned. Otherwise, EOF is returned and the global variable *errno* is set to indicate the error. In either case no further access to the stream is possible.

## ERRORS

The **fclose**() function may also fail and set *errno* for any of the errors specified for the routines [close(2)](/close/2.md) or [fflush(3)](/fflush/3.md).

## NOTES

The **fclose**() function does not handle NULL arguments; they will result in a segmentation violation. This is intentional - it makes it easier to make sure programs written under FreeBSD are bug free. This behaviour is an implementation detail, and programs should not rely upon it.

## SEE ALSO

[close(2)](/close/2.md), [fflush(3)](/fflush/3.md), [fopen(3)](/fopen/3.md), [setbuf(3)](/setbuf/3.md)

## STANDARDS

The **fclose**() function conforms to ISO/IEC 9899:1990 (“ISO C90”).

The **fcloseall**() function first appeared in FreeBSD 7.0.