---
name: "pmdadesc"
section: "3"
platform: "linux"
package: "libpcp-pmda3-dev"
version: "4.3.2+really4.3.1-0.1"
release: "Debian 10 (Buster)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/pmdaDesc"
---

# pmdadesc(3)

get the description of a metric from a PMDA

Part of [pmdaDesc(3)](/pmdaDesc/3.md).

## NAME

**pmdaDesc** - get the description of a metric from a PMDA

## C SYNOPSIS

**#include \<pcp/pmapi.h\>**\
 **#include \<pcp/pmda.h\>**

**int pmdaDesc(pmID** *pmid***, pmDesc \****desc***, pmdaExt \****pmda***);**

**cc ... -lpcp\_pmda -lpcp**

## DESCRIPTION

**pmdaDesc** uses the standard  [**PMDA**(3)](/PMDA/3.md) data structures to return the **pmDesc** description in *desc* for the metric identified by *pmid*.

## DIAGNOSTICS

If the  *pmid* does not correspond to any metric supported by this PMDA, **pmdaDesc** returns  **PM\_ERR\_PMID**.

## CAVEAT

The PMDA must be using  **PMDA\_INTERFACE\_2** or later, as specified in the call to  [**pmdaDSO**(3)](/pmdaDSO/3.md) or  [**pmdaDaemon**(3)](/pmdaDaemon/3.md).

## SEE ALSO

[**PMAPI**(3)](/PMAPI/3.md), [**PMDA**(3)](/PMDA/3.md), [**pmdaDaemon**(3)](/pmdaDaemon/3.md), [**pmdaDSO**(3)](/pmdaDSO/3.md) and [**pmLookupDesc**(3)](/pmLookupDesc/3.md).