---
name: "getdirentries"
section: "3"
platform: "linux"
package: "man-pages"
version: "6.19-1"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/getdirentries/3"
---

# getdirentries(3)

get directory entries in a filesystem-independent format

## NAME

getdirentries - get directory entries in a filesystem-independent format

## LIBRARY

Standard C library (*libc*, *-lc*)

## SYNOPSIS

```
#include <dirent.h>
```

**ssize\_t getdirentries(**size\_t size;                       **int** *fd***, char** *buf***\[restrict** *size***\], size\_t** *size***,**                       **off\_t \*restrict** *basep***);**

Feature Test Macro Requirements for glibc (see [**feature\_test\_macros**(7)](/feature_test_macros/7.md)):

**getdirentries**():

```
    Since glibc 2.19:
        _DEFAULT_SOURCE
    glibc 2.19 and earlier:
        _BSD_SOURCE || _SVID_SOURCE
```

## DESCRIPTION

Read directory entries from the directory specified by *fd* into *buf*. At most *size* bytes are read. Reading starts at offset *\*basep*, and *\*basep* is updated with the new position after reading.

## RETURN VALUE

**getdirentries**() returns the number of bytes read or zero when at the end of the directory. If an error occurs, -1 is returned, and *errno* is set to indicate the error.

## ERRORS

See the Linux library source code for details.

## ATTRIBUTES

For an explanation of the terms used in this section, see [**attributes**(7)](/attributes/7.md).

| | | |
| --- | --- | --- |
| **Interface** | **Attribute** | **Value** |
| **getdirentries**() | Thread safety | MT-Safe |

## STANDARDS

BSD.

## NOTES

Use [**opendir**(3)](/opendir/3.md) and [**readdir**(3)](/readdir/3.md) instead.

## SEE ALSO

[**lseek**(2)](/lseek/2.md), [**open**(2)](/open/2.md)