tmpfile Subroutine

Purpose

Creates a temporary file.

Library

Standard C Library (libc.a)

Syntax

#include <stdio.h>
FILE *tmpfile ( )

Description

The tmpfile subroutine creates a temporary file and opens a corresponding stream. The file is opened for update. The temporary file is automatically deleted when all references (links) to the file have been closed.

The stream refers to a file which has been unlinked. If the process ends in the period between file creation and unlinking, a permanent file may remain.

Return Values

The tmpfile subroutine returns a pointer to the stream of the file that is created if the call is successful. Otherwise, it returns a null pointer and sets the errno global variable to indicate the error.

Error Codes

The tmpfile subroutine fails if one of the following occurs:

Item Description
EINTR A signal was caught during the tmpfile subroutine.
EMFILE The number of file descriptors currently open in the calling process is already equal to OPEN_MAX.
ENFILE The maximum allowable number of files is currently open in the system.
ENOSPEC The directory or file system which would contain the new file cannot be expanded.