getgrent(3)
NAME
getgrent, getgrgid, getgrnam, setgrent, endgrent − get group file entry
SYNTAX
#include <grp.h>
struct group *getgrent()
struct group *getgrgid(gid)
int gid;
struct group *getgrnam(name)
char *name;
setgrent()
endgrent()
DESCRIPTION
The getgrent, getgrgid and getgrnam subroutines each return pointers to an object with the following structure containing the broken-out fields of a line in the group file:
struct group { /* see getgrent(3) */
char *gr_name;
char *gr_passwd;
int gr_gid;
char **gr_mem;
};
struct group *getgrent(), *getgrgid(), *getgrnam();
The members of this structure are:
gr_name The name of the group.
gr_passwd The encrypted password of the group.
gr_gid The numerical group-ID.
gr_mem Null-terminated vector of pointers to the individual member names.
The getgrent subroutine simply reads the next line while getgrgid and getgrnam search until a matching gid or name is found (or until EOF is encountered). Each routine picks up where the others leave off so successive calls may be used to search the entire file.
A call to setgrent has the effect of rewinding the group file to allow repeated searches. The endgrent may be called to close the group file when processing is complete.
RESTRICTIONS
All information is contained in a static area so it must be copied if it is to be saved.
If YP is running, getgrent does not return the entries in any particular order.
RETURN VALUE
A null pointer (0) is returned on EOF or error.
FILES
/etc/group