NAME

alarm − set a process’s alarm clock

SYNOPSIS

unsigned alarm (sec)
unsigned sec;

DESCRIPTION

Alarm instructs the calling process’s alarm clock to send the signal SIGALRM to the calling process after the number of real time seconds specified by sec have elapsed; see signal(2).

Alarm requests are not stacked; successive calls reset the calling process’s alarm clock. 

If sec is 0, any previously made alarm request is canceled. 

RETURN VALUE

Alarm returns the amount of time previously remaining in the calling process’s alarm clock. 

SEE ALSO

pause(2), signal(2). 

May 16, 1980