---
name: "pfm_strerror"
section: "3"
platform: "linux"
package: "libpfm"
version: "4.14.1-1"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/pfm_strerror"
---

# pfm\_strerror(3)

return constant string describing error code

## NAME

pfm\_strerror - return constant string describing error code

## SYNOPSIS

```
#include <perfmon/pfmlib.h>

const char *pfm_strerror(int code);

```

## DESCRIPTION

This function returns a string which describes the libpfm error value in **code**. The string returned by the call is **read-only**.

The function must **only** be used with libpfm calls documented to return specific error codes. The value -1 is not considered a specific error code. Strings and **pfm\_pmu\_t** return values cannot be used with this function. Typically **NULL** is returned in case of error for string values, and **PFM\_PMU\_NONE** is returned for **pfm\_pmu\_t** values.

The function is also not designed to handle OS system call errors, i.e., errno values.

## RETURN

The function returns a pointer to the constant string describing the error code. The string is in English. If code is invalid then a default error message is returned.

## ERRORS

If the error code is invalid, then the function returns a pointer to a string which says "unknown error code".

## AUTHOR

Stephane Eranian \<eranian@gmail.com\>