---
name: "kvm_geterr"
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/kvm_geterr"
---

# kvm\_geterr(3)

get error message on kvm descriptor

## NAME

**kvm\_geterr** – get error message on kvm descriptor

## LIBRARY

Kernel Data Access Library (libkvm, -lkvm)

## SYNOPSIS

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

*char* *\**\

**kvm\_geterr**(*kvm\_t \*kd*);

## DESCRIPTION

This function returns a string describing the most recent error condition on the descriptor *kd*. The results are undefined if the most recent [kvm(3)](/kvm/3.md) library call did not produce an error. The string returned is stored in memory owned by [kvm(3)](/kvm/3.md) so the message should be copied out and saved elsewhere if necessary.

## RETURN VALUES

The function **kvm\_geterr**() will return "" if *kd* is NULL or an error has not been captured for *kd*.

## SEE ALSO

[kvm(3)](/kvm/3.md), [kvm\_close(3)](/kvm_close/3.md), [kvm\_getargv(3)](/kvm_getargv/3.md), [kvm\_getenvv(3)](/kvm_getenvv/3.md), [kvm\_getprocs(3)](/kvm_getprocs/3.md), [kvm\_nlist(3)](/kvm_nlist/3.md), [kvm\_open(3)](/kvm_open/3.md), [kvm\_openfiles(3)](/kvm_openfiles/3.md), [kvm\_read(3)](/kvm_read/3.md), [kvm\_write(3)](/kvm_write/3.md)

## BUGS

This routine cannot be used to access error conditions due to a failed **kvm\_openfiles**() call, since failure is indicated by returning a NULL descriptor. Therefore, errors on open are output to the special error buffer passed to **kvm\_openfiles**(). This option is not available to **kvm\_open**().