---
name: "pcap_get_tstamp_precision"
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/pcap_get_tstamp_precision"
---

# pcap\_get\_tstamp\_precision(3)

get the time stamp precision returned in captures

## NAME

pcap\_get\_tstamp\_precision - get the time stamp precision returned in captures

## SYNOPSIS

```
#include <pcap/pcap.h>
```

**int pcap\_get\_tstamp\_precision(pcap\_t \*p);**

## DESCRIPTION

**pcap\_get\_tstamp\_precision**() returns the precision of the time stamp returned in packet captures on the pcap descriptor.

## RETURN VALUE

**pcap\_get\_tstamp\_precision**() returns **PCAP\_TSTAMP\_PRECISION\_MICRO** or **PCAP\_TSTAMP\_PRECISION\_NANO**, which indicates that pcap captures contains time stamps in microseconds or nanoseconds respectively.

## BACKWARD COMPATIBILITY

This function became available in libpcap release 1.5.1.  In previous releases, time stamps from a capture device or savefile are always given in seconds and microseconds.

## SEE ALSO

[**pcap**(3)](/pcap/3.md), [**pcap\_set\_tstamp\_precision**(3)](/pcap_set_tstamp_precision/3.md), [**pcap-tstamp**(7)](/pcap-tstamp/7.md)