NAME

       chdir - change working directory

SYNOPSIS

       #include <unistd.h>

       int chdir(const char *path);

DESCRIPTION

       The  chdir()  function  shall  cause the directory named by the pathname pointed to by the
       path argument to become the current working directory; that is,  the  starting  point  for
       path searches for pathnames not beginning with '/' .

RETURN VALUE

       Upon  successful  completion,  0  shall  be returned. Otherwise, -1 shall be returned, the
       current working directory shall remain unchanged, and errno shall be set to  indicate  the
       error.

ERRORS

       The chdir() function shall fail if:

       EACCES Search permission is denied for any component of the pathname.

       ELOOP  A loop exists in symbolic links encountered during resolution of the path argument.

       ENAMETOOLONG
              The  length  of  the  path  argument  exceeds {PATH_MAX} or a pathname component is
              longer than {NAME_MAX}.

       ENOENT A component of path does not name an existing directory or path is an empty string.

       ENOTDIR
              A component of the pathname is not a directory.

       The chdir() function may fail if:

       ELOOP  More than {SYMLOOP_MAX} symbolic links were encountered during  resolution  of  the
              path argument.

       ENAMETOOLONG
              As a result of encountering a symbolic link in resolution of the path argument, the
              length of the substituted pathname string exceeded {PATH_MAX}.

       The following sections are informative.

EXAMPLES

   Changing the Current Working Directory
       The following example makes the value pointed to by directory, /tmp, the  current  working
       directory.

              #include <unistd.h>
              ...
              char *directory = "/tmp";
              int ret;

              ret = chdir (directory);

APPLICATION USAGE

       None.

RATIONALE

       The chdir() function only affects the working directory of the current process.

FUTURE DIRECTIONS

       None.

SEE ALSO

       getcwd() , the Base Definitions volume of IEEE Std 1003.1-2001, <unistd.h>

COPYRIGHT

       Portions  of  this  text  are  reprinted  and  reproduced in electronic form from IEEE Std
       1003.1, 2003 Edition, Standard for Information Technology  --  Portable  Operating  System
       Interface  (POSIX), The Open Group Base Specifications Issue 6, Copyright (C) 2001-2003 by
       the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc and  The  Open  Group.  In  the
       event  of  any  discrepancy  between this version and the original IEEE and The Open Group
       Standard, the original IEEE and The Open Group  Standard  is  the  referee  document.  The
       original Standard can be obtained online at http://www.opengroup.org/unix/online.html .