---
name: "sigreturn"
section: "2"
platform: "freebsd"
package: "base"
version: "16.0-CURRENT-20261027-61c70dc16a79"
release: "FreeBSD 16.0-CURRENT (2026-10-27)"
platforms: ["linux", "freebsd"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/sigreturn"
---

# sigreturn(2)

return from signal

## NAME

**sigreturn** – return from signal

## LIBRARY

Standard C Library (libc, -lc)

## SYNOPSIS

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

*int*\

**sigreturn**(*const ucontext\_t \*scp*);

## DESCRIPTION

The **sigreturn**() system call allows users to atomically unmask, switch stacks, and return from a signal context. The thread's signal mask and stack status are restored from the context structure pointed to by *scp*. The system call does not return; the whole userspace context as specified by *scp*, including the userspace stack pointer, all general-purpose registers, coprocessor state, process status register, and program counter are restored from the context. Execution resumes at the program counter from the specified context.

This system call is used by the kernel-provided signal trampoline code, located in the virtual DSO (VDSO) on some architectures or as raw code in the shared page if VDSO is not provided, when returning from a signal to the previously executing program.

## RETURN VALUES

If successful, the system call does not return. Otherwise, a value of -1 may be returned, with *errno* set to indicate the error. Some conditions detected by hardware result in the delivery of a synchronous trap signal to the thread, in addition to or instead of setting the system call error code.

## ERRORS

The **sigreturn**() system call will fail and the thread context will remain unchanged if one of the following occurs.

- \[EFAULT\]

  The *scp* argument points to memory that is not a valid part of the process address space.

- \[EINVAL\]

  The process status longword is invalid or would improperly raise the privilege level of the process.

## SEE ALSO

[sigaction(2)](/sigaction/2.md), [setjmp(3)](/setjmp/3.md), [ucontext(3)](/ucontext/3.md)

## HISTORY

The **sigreturn**() system call appeared in 4.3BSD.