---
name: "getsockname"
section: "2"
platform: "freebsd"
package: "base"
version: "16.0-CURRENT-20261027-61c70dc16a79"
release: "FreeBSD 16.0-CURRENT (2026-10-27)"
platforms: ["linux", "freebsd", "macos"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/getsockname/2"
---

# getsockname(2)

get socket name

## NAME

**getsockname** – get socket name

## LIBRARY

Standard C Library (libc, -lc)

## SYNOPSIS

**#include \<sys/types.h\>**

**#include \<sys/socket.h\>**

*int*\

**getsockname**(*int s*, *struct sockaddr \* restrict name*, *socklen\_t \* restrict namelen*);

## DESCRIPTION

The **getsockname**() system call returns the current *name* for the specified socket. The *namelen* argument should be initialized to indicate the amount of space pointed to by *name*. On return it contains the actual size of the name returned (in bytes).

## RETURN VALUES

The **getsockname()** function returns the value 0 if successful; otherwise the value -1 is returned and the global variable errno is set to indicate the error.

## ERRORS

The call succeeds unless:

- \[EBADF\]

  The argument *s* is not a valid descriptor.

- \[ECONNRESET\]

  The connection has been reset by the peer.

- \[EINVAL\]

  The value of the *namelen* argument is not valid.

- \[ENOTSOCK\]

  The argument *s* is a file, not a socket.

- \[ENOBUFS\]

  Insufficient resources were available in the system to perform the operation.

- \[EFAULT\]

  The *name* argument points to memory not in a valid part of the process address space.

## SEE ALSO

[bind(2)](/bind/2.md), [getpeername(2)](/getpeername/2.md), [socket(2)](/socket/2.md)

## HISTORY

The **getsockname**() system call appeared in 4.2BSD.

## BUGS

Names bound to sockets in the UNIX domain are inaccessible; **getsockname**() returns a zero length name.