---
name: "getfstype"
section: "3"
platform: "freebsd"
package: "base"
version: "16.0-CURRENT-20261027-61c70dc16a79"
release: "FreeBSD 16.0-CURRENT (2026-10-27)"
platforms: ["freebsd"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/endfsent"
---

# getfstype(3)

get file system descriptor file entry

Part of [endfsent(3)](/endfsent/3.md).

## NAME

**getfsent**, **getfsspec**, **getfsfile**, **setfsent**, **endfsent** – get file system descriptor file entry

## LIBRARY

Standard C Library (libc, -lc)

## SYNOPSIS

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

*struct fstab \**\

**getfsent**(*void*);

*struct fstab \**\

**getfsspec**(*const char \*spec*);

*struct fstab \**\

**getfsfile**(*const char \*file*);

*int*\

**setfsent**(*void*);

*void*\

**endfsent**(*void*);

*void*\

**setfstab**(*const char \*file*);

*const char \**\

**getfstab**(*void*);

## DESCRIPTION

The **getfsent**(), **getfsspec**(), and **getfsfile**() functions each return a pointer to an object with the following structure containing the broken-out fields of a line in the file system description file, ⟨fstab.h⟩.

```
struct fstab {
	char	*fs_spec;	/* block special device name */
	char	*fs_file;	/* file system path prefix */
	char	*fs_vfstype;	/* File system type, ufs, nfs */
	char	*fs_mntops;	/* Mount options ala -o */
	char	*fs_type;	/* FSTAB_* from fs_mntops */
	int	fs_freq;	/* dump frequency, in days */
	int	fs_passno;	/* pass number on parallel fsck */
};
```

The fields have meanings described in [fstab(5)](/fstab/5.md).

The **setfsent**() function opens the file (closing any previously opened file) or rewinds it if it is already open.

The **endfsent**() function closes the file.

The **setfstab**() function sets the file to be used by subsequent operations. The value set by **setfstab**() does not persist across calls to **endfsent**().

The **getfstab**() function returns the name of the file that will be used.

The **getfsspec**() and **getfsfile**() functions search the entire file (opening it if necessary) for a matching special file name or file system file name.

For programs wishing to read the entire database, **getfsent**() reads the next entry (opening the file if necessary).

All entries in the file with a type field equivalent to FSTAB\_XX are ignored.

## RETURN VALUES

The **getfsent**(), **getfsspec**(), and **getfsfile**() functions return a NULL pointer on EOF or error. The **setfsent**() function returns 0 on failure, 1 on success. The **endfsent**() function returns nothing.

## ENVIRONMENT

- PATH\_FSTAB

  If the environment variable PATH\_FSTAB is set, all operations are performed against the specified file. PATH\_FSTAB will not be honored if the process environment or memory address space is considered “tainted”. (See [issetugid(2)](/issetugid/2.md) for more information.)

## FILES

- */etc/fstab*

  ## SEE ALSO

[fstab(5)](/fstab/5.md)

## HISTORY

The **getfsent**() function appeared in 4.0BSD; the **endfsent**(), **getfsfile**(), **getfsspec**(), and **setfsent**() functions appeared in 4.3BSD; the **setfstab**() and **getfstab**() functions appeared in FreeBSD 5.1.

## BUGS

These functions use static data storage; if the data is needed for future use, it should be copied before any subsequent calls overwrite it.