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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 .