LSEEK(2) SysV LSEEK(2)
NAME
lseek - move read/write file pointer
SYNOPSIS
#include <unistd.h>
long lseek (fildes, offset, whence)
int fildes;
long offset;
int whence;
DESCRIPTION
fildes is a file descriptor returned from a creat(2), open(2), dup(2), or
fcntl(2) system call. lseek sets the file pointer associated with fildes
as follows:
o If whence is SEEK_SET, the pointer is set to offset bytes.
o If whence is SEEK_CUR, the pointer is set to its current location plus
offset.
o If whence is SEEK_END, the pointer is set to the size of the file plus
offset.
Upon successful completion, the resulting pointer location, as measured
in bytes from the beginning of the file, is returned. Note that if
fildes is a remote file descriptor and offset is negative, lseek will
return the file pointer even if it is negative.
ERRORS
lseek will fail and the file pointer will remain unchanged if one or more
of the following are true:
[EBADF] fildes is not an open file descriptor.
[ESPIPE] fildes is associated with a pipe or fifo.
[EINVAL and SIGSYS signal]
whence is not SEEK_SET, SEEK_CUR, or SEEK_END.
[EINVAL] fildes is not a remote file descriptor, and the resulting file
pointer would be negative.
Some devices are incapable of seeking. The value of the file pointer
associated with such a device is undefined.
SEE ALSO
creat(2), dup(2), fcntl(2), open(2).
DIAGNOSTICS
Upon successful completion, a non-negative integer indicating the file
pointer value is returned. Otherwise, a value of -1 is returned and
errno is set as indicated under "Errors."