---
name: "gethostent"
section: "3bobcat"
platform: "linux"
package: "libbobcat-dev"
version: "6.07.01-2"
release: "Debian 13 (Trixie)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/gethostent/3bobcat"
---

# gethostent(3bobcat)

Obtain hostent struct from hostname or -address

## NAME

FBB::GetHostent - Obtain **hostent** struct from hostname or -address

## SYNOPSIS

**#include \<bobcat/gethostent\>**\
 Linking option: *-lbobcat*

## DESCRIPTION

**FBB::GetHostent** objects produce *hostent* structs which may be used by other types of objects. The **FBB::GetHostent** class is therefore primarily used as a base-class for other classes and is seldomly used \`stand-alone’. The *hostent* structs are static structs, but a non-static copy may be obtained using an **FBB::Hostent** object.

A *hostent* struct is defined as follows:

```
    struct hostent
    {
        char    *h_name;        // official name of host
        char    **h_aliases;    // alias list
        int     h_addrtype;     // host address type (always AF_INET)
        int     h_length;       // length of address
        char    **h_addr_list;  // list of addresses
    }
```

The *address* fields are binary values of the addresses, each address requiring *h\_length* bytes, the last address being equal to 0. These binary values may be converted to character-representations by the *addressToString()* member, which uses **inet\_ntop()**, internally.

## NAMESPACE

**FBB**\
 All constructors, members, operators and manipulators, mentioned in this man-page, are defined in the namespace **FBB**.

## INHERITS FROM

\-

## CONSTRUCTORS

All members of the class **FBB::GetHostent** are static. Consequently, there is no need to construct a **FBB::GetHostent** object.

## STATIC MEMBERS

- o

  **hostent const \*gethostent(char const \*errorprefix,** **std::string const &nameOrAddress)**:\
   The **gethostent()** member returns a pointer to a static **struct** **hostent**. It contains the information about the host whose name or dotted decimal address was provided as its second argument. Its first argument is an error string prefix, prefixing the error message in an **FBB::Exception** object. Such an object is thrown as an exception when the host’s information could not be retrieved.

- o

  **std::string addressToString(char const \*errorprefix,** **void const \*ads)**:\
   This member returns the dotted decimal address of the host whose binary address is provided at **ads**. Its first argument is an error string prefix, prefixing the error message in an **FBB::Exception** object. Such an object is thrown as an exception when the dotted decimal address could not be determined.

-

  The class’ members can only be used when the host whose name or address is searched can be resolved by a name resolution process, e.g., [**bind**(1)](/bind/1.md).

## EXAMPLE

```
    #include <iostream>
    #include <algorithm>
    #include <iterator>
    #include <bobcat/hostent>
    #include <bobcat/gethostent>
    using namespace std;
    using namespace FBB;
    int main(int argc, char **argv)
    try
    {
        if (argc == 1)
        {
            cerr << "Provide a host name or host address to solve\n";
            return 1;
        }
        Hostent he(GetHostent::gethostent(argv[1], argv[1]));
        cout << "Hostname: " << he.hostname() << endl;
        cout << "Aliases:\n";
        copy(he.beginAlias(), he.endAlias(),
                ostream_iterator<char const *>(cout, "\n"));
        cout << "Addresses:\n";
        for (size_t idx = 0; idx < he.nAddresses(); idx++)
            cout << he.dottedDecimalAddress(idx) << endl;
    }
    catch (Exception const &err)
    {
        cout << err.what() << endl;
        return 1;
    }
```

## FILES

*bobcat/gethostent* - defines the class interface

## SEE ALSO

[**bind**(1)](/bind/1.md), [**bobcat**(7)](/bobcat/7.md), [**gethostbyaddr**(3)](/gethostbyaddr/3.md) [**gethostbyname**(3)](/gethostbyname/3.md), [**hostent**(3bobcat)](/hostent/3bobcat.md), [**inetaddress**(3bobcat)](/inetaddress/3bobcat.md), [**inet\_ntop**(3)](/inet_ntop/3.md)

## BUGS

None Reported.

## BOBCAT PROJECT FILES

- o

  *https://fbb-git.gitlab.io/bobcat/*: gitlab project page;

Debian Bobcat project files:

- o

  *libbobcat6*: debian package containing the shared library, changelog and copyright note;

- o

  *libbobcat-dev*: debian package containing the static library, headers, manual pages, and developer info;

## BOBCAT

Bobcat is an acronym of \`Brokken’s Own Base Classes And Templates’.

## COPYRIGHT

This is free software, distributed under the terms of the GNU General Public License (GPL).

## AUTHOR

Frank B. Brokken (**f.b.brokken@rug.nl**).