---
name: "seekdir"
section: "3"
platform: "linux"
package: "man-pages"
version: "6.19-1"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux", "freebsd"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/seekdir"
---

# seekdir(3)

set the position of the next readdir() call in the directory stream.

## NAME

seekdir - set the position of the next readdir() call in the directory stream.

## LIBRARY

Standard C library (*libc*, *-lc*)

## SYNOPSIS

```
#include <dirent.h>
```

**void seekdir(DIR \****dirp***, long** *loc***);**

Feature Test Macro Requirements for glibc (see [**feature\_test\_macros**(7)](/feature_test_macros/7.md)):

**seekdir**():

```
    _XOPEN_SOURCE
        || /* glibc >= 2.19: */ _DEFAULT_SOURCE
        || /* glibc <= 2.19: */ _BSD_SOURCE || _SVID_SOURCE
```

## DESCRIPTION

The **seekdir**() function sets the location in the directory stream from which the next [**readdir**(2)](/readdir/2.md) call will start. The *loc* argument should be a value returned by a previous call to [**telldir**(3)](/telldir/3.md).

## RETURN VALUE

The **seekdir**() function returns no value.

## ATTRIBUTES

For an explanation of the terms used in this section, see [**attributes**(7)](/attributes/7.md).

| | | |
| --- | --- | --- |
| **Interface** | **Attribute** | **Value** |
| **seekdir**() | Thread safety | MT-Safe |

## STANDARDS

POSIX.1-2008.

## HISTORY

POSIX.1-2001, 4.3BSD.

## CAVEATS

Up to glibc 2.1.1, the type of the *loc* argument was *off\_t*. POSIX.1-2001 specifies *long*, and this is the type used since glibc 2.1.2. See [**telldir**(3)](/telldir/3.md) for information on why you should be careful in making any assumptions about the value in this argument.

## SEE ALSO

[**lseek**(2)](/lseek/2.md), [**closedir**(3)](/closedir/3.md), [**opendir**(3)](/opendir/3.md), [**readdir**(3)](/readdir/3.md), [**rewinddir**(3)](/rewinddir/3.md), [**scandir**(3)](/scandir/3.md), [**telldir**(3)](/telldir/3.md)