NAME
getpwent, getpwuid, getpwnam, setpwent, endpwent - get password file entry
SYNOPSIS
#include <pwd.h>
struct passwd *getpwent();
struct passwd *getpwuid(uid) int uid;
struct passwd *getpwnam(name) char *name;
int setpwent();
int endpwent();
DESCRIPTION
Getpwent, getpwuid and getpwnam each return a pointer to an object with the following structure containing the broken-out fields of a line in the password file.
struct passwd { /* see getpwent(3) */
char *pw_name;
char *pw_passwd;
int pw_uid;
int pw_gid;
int pw_quota;
char *pw_comment;
char *pw_gecos;
char *pw_dir;
char *pw_shell;
};
The fields pw_quota and pw_comment are unused; the others have meanings described in passwd(5).
Getpwent reads the next line (opening the file if necessary); setpwent rewinds the file; endpwent closes it.
Getpwuid and getpwnam search from the beginning until a matching uid or name is found (or until EOF is encountered).
FILES
/etc/passwd
SEE ALSO
getlogin(3), getgrent(3), passwd(5)
DIAGNOSTICS
Null pointer (0) returned on EOF or error.
BUGS
All information is contained in a static area so it must be copied if it is to be saved.