---
name: "tep_strerror"
section: "3"
platform: "linux"
package: "libtraceevent"
version: "1:1.9.1-1"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/tep_strerror"
---

# tep\_strerror(3)

Returns a string describing regular errno and tep error number.

## NAME

tep\_strerror - Returns a string describing regular errno and tep error number.

## SYNOPSIS

```
#include <event-parse.h>
int tep_strerror(struct tep_handle *tep, enum tep_errno errnum, char *buf, size_t buflen);
```

## DESCRIPTION

The **tep\_strerror()** function converts tep error number into a human readable string. The *tep* argument is trace event parser context. The *errnum* is a regular errno, defined in errno.h, or a tep error number. The string, describing this error number is copied in the *buf* argument. The *buflen* argument is the size of the *buf*.

It as a thread safe wrapper around strerror\_r(). The library function has two different behaviors - POSIX and GNU specific. The **tep\_strerror()** API always behaves as the POSIX version - the error string is copied in the user supplied buffer.

## RETURN VALUE

The **tep\_strerror()** function returns 0, if a valid *errnum* is passed and the string is copied into *buf*. If *errnum* is not a valid error number, -1 is returned and *buf* is not modified.

## EXAMPLE

```
#include <event-parse.h>
...
struct tep_handle *tep = tep_alloc();
...
char buf[32];
char *pool = calloc(1, 128);
if (tep == NULL) {
        tep_strerror(tep, TEP_ERRNO__MEM_ALLOC_FAILED, buf, 32);
        printf ("The pool is not initialized, %s", buf);
}
...
```

## FILES

```
event-parse.h
        Header file to include in order to have access to the library APIs.
-ltraceevent
        Linker switch to add when building a program that uses the library.
```

## SEE ALSO

[**libtraceevent**(3)](/libtraceevent/3.md), [**trace-cmd**(1)](/trace-cmd/1.md)

## AUTHOR

```
Steven Rostedt <rostedt@goodmis.org[1]>, author of libtraceevent.
Tzvetomir Stoyanov <tz.stoyanov@gmail.com[2]>, author of this man page.
```

## REPORTING BUGS

Report bugs to \<**linux-trace-devel@vger.kernel.org**\[3\]\>

## LICENSE

libtraceevent is Free Software licensed under the GNU LGPL 2.1

## RESOURCES

**https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/libs/libtrace/libtraceevent.git/**

## NOTES

- 1\.

  rostedt@goodmis.org

  mailto:rostedt@goodmis.org

- 2\.

  tz.stoyanov@gmail.com

  mailto:tz.stoyanov@gmail.com

- 3\.

  linux-trace-devel@vger.kernel.org

  mailto:linux-trace-devel@vger.kernel.org