Sets the signal mask of a thread.
Threads Library (libpthreads.a)
The sigthreadmask subroutine is used to examine or change the signal mask of the calling thread. The sigprocmask subroutine must not be used in a multi-threaded process.
Typically, the sigthreadmask(SIG_BLOCK) subroutine is used to block signals during a critical section of code. The sigthreadmask(SIG_SETMASK) subroutine is then used to restore the mask to the previous value returned by the sigthreadmask(SIG_BLOCK) subroutine.
If there are any pending unblocked signals after the call to the sigthreadmask subroutine, at least one of those signals will be delivered before the sigthreadmask subroutine returns.
The sigthreadmask subroutine does not allow the SIGKILL or SIGSTOP signal to be blocked. If a program attempts to block either signal, the sigthreadmask subroutine gives no indication of the error.
Item | Description |
---|---|
how | Indicates the manner in which the set is changed. It can
have one of the following values:
|
set | Specifies the signal set. If the value of the Set parameter is not null, it points to a set of signals to be used to change the currently blocked set. If the value of the Set parameter is null, the value of the How parameter is not significant and the process signal mask is unchanged. Thus, the call can be used to inquire about currently blocked signals. |
old_set | If the old_set parameter is not the null value, the signal mask in effect at the time of the call is stored in the spaced pointed to by the old_set parameter. |
Upon completion, a value of 0 is returned. If the sigthreadmask subroutine fails, the signal mask of the process is unchanged, a value of -1 is returned, and the global variable errno is set to indicate the error.
The sigthreadmask subroutine is unsuccessful if the following is true:
Item | Description |
---|---|
EFAULT | The set or old_set pointers are not in the process address space. |
EINVAL | The value of the how parameter is not supported. |
EPERM | The calling thread does not have the privilege to change the signal's mask. |
To set the signal mask to block only the SIGINT signal from delivery, enter:
#include <pthread.h>
#include <signal.h>
int return_value;
sigset_t newset;
sigset_t *newset_p;
. . .
newset_p = &newset;
sigemptyset(newset_p);
sigaddset(newset_p, SIGINT);
return_value = sigthreadmask(SIG_SETMASK, newset_p, NULL);