strerror(3C)                                                   strerror(3C)

NAME
     strerror - get error message

SYNOPSIS
     #include <string.h>

     char *strerror(int errnum);

DESCRIPTION
     strerror() maps the error number in errnum to an error message string,
     and returns a pointer to that string. The returned string must not be
     overwritten by the program, but may be overwritten by a subsequent
     call to strerror() or popen(). The content of the error message string
     returned by strerror() is determined by the setting of the LCMESSAGES
     category in the current locale.

RESULT
     Upon successful completion strerror() returns a pointer to the gen-
     erated message string. On error, errno may be set, but no return value
     is reserved to indicate an error.

NOTES
     Because no return value is reserved to indicate an error, an applica-
     tion wishing to check for error situations should set errno to 0, then
     call strerror(), then check errno. If it is non-zero, an error must
     have occurred.

SEE ALSO
     perror(3C).


























Page 1                       Reliant UNIX 5.44                Printed 11/98