getpw Subroutine

Purpose

Retrieves a user's /etc/passwd file entry.

Library

Standard C Library (libc.a)

Syntax

int getpw (UserID, Buffer)

uid_t UserID
char *Buffer

Description

The getpw subroutine opens the /etc/passwd file and returns, in the Buffer parameter, the /etc/passwd file entry of the user specified by the UserID parameter.

Parameters

Item	Description
Buffer	Specifies a character buffer large enough to hold any /etc/passwd entry.
UserID	Specifies the ID of the user for which the entry is desired.

Return Values

The getpw subroutine returns:

Item	Description
0	Successful completion
-1	Not successful.