LOCKF(3) | Library Functions Manual | LOCKF(3)

# NAME

`lockf` — record locking on files

# SYNOPSIS

`#include <unistd.h>`

int
`lockf`(int filedes, int function, off_t size);

# DESCRIPTION

The `lockf`() function allows sections of a file to be locked with advisory-mode locks. Calls to `lockf`() from other processes which attempt to lock the locked file section will either return an error value or block until the section becomes unlocked. All the locks for a process are removed when the process terminates.

The argument filedes is an open file descriptor. The file descriptor must have been opened either for write-only (`O_WRONLY`) or read/write (`O_RDWR`) operation.

The function argument is a control value which specifies the action to be taken. The permissible values for function are as follows:

Function
  Description
`F_ULOCK`
  Unlock locked sections.
`F_LOCK`
  Lock a section for exclusive use.
`F_TLOCK`
  Test and lock a section for exclusive use.
`F_TEST`
  Test a section for locks by other processes.

The `F_ULOCK` function removes locks from a section of the file; `F_LOCK` and `F_TLOCK` both lock a section of a file if the section is available; `F_TEST` detects if a lock by another process is present on the specified section.

The size argument is the number of contiguous bytes to be locked or unlocked. The section to be locked or unlocked starts at the current offset in the file and extends forward for a positive size or backward for a negative size (the preceding bytes up to but not including the current offset). However, it is not permitted to lock a section that starts or extends before the beginning of the file. If size is 0, the section from the current offset through the largest possible file offset is locked (that is, from the current offset through the present or any future end-of-file).

The sections locked with `F_LOCK` or `F_TLOCK` may, in whole or in part, contain or be contained by a previously locked section for the same process. When this occurs, or if adjacent locked sections would occur, the sections are combined into a single locked section. If the request would cause the number of locks to exceed a system-imposed limit, the request will fail.

The `F_LOCK` and `F_TLOCK` requests differ only by the action taken if the section is not available. `F_LOCK` blocks the calling process until the section is available. `F_TLOCK` makes the function fail if the section is already locked by another process.

File locks are released on first close by the locking process of any file descriptor for the file.

`F_ULOCK` requests release (wholly or in part) of one or more locked sections controlled by the process. Locked sections will be unlocked starting at the current file offset through size bytes or to the end of the file if size is 0. When all of a locked section is not released (that is, when the beginning or end of the area to be unlocked falls within a locked section), the remaining portions of that section are still locked by the process. Releasing the center portion of a locked section will cause the remaining locked beginning and end portions to become two separate locked sections. If the request would cause the number of locks in the system to exceed a system-imposed limit, the request will fail.

An `F_ULOCK` request in which size is non-zero and the offset of the last byte of the requested section is the maximum value for an object of type off_t, when the process has an existing lock in which size is 0 and which includes the last byte of the requested section, will be treated as a request to unlock from the start of the requested section with a size equal to 0. Otherwise an `F_ULOCK` request will attempt to unlock only the requested section.

A potential for deadlock occurs if a process controlling a locked region is put to sleep by attempting to lock the locked region of another process. This implementation detects that sleeping until a locked region is unlocked would cause a deadlock and fails with an `EDEADLK` error.

`lockf`(), fcntl(2), and flock(2) locks may be safely used concurrently.

Blocking on a section is interrupted by any signal.

# RETURN VALUES

If successful, the `lockf`() function returns 0. Otherwise, it returns -1, sets the global variable errno to indicate an error, and existing locks are not changed.

# ERRORS

`lockf`() will fail if:

[`EAGAIN`]
  The argument function is `F_TLOCK` or `F_TEST` and the section is already locked by another process.
[`EBADF`]
  The argument filedes is not a valid open file descriptor.

  The argument function is `F_LOCK` or `F_TLOCK`, and filedes is not a valid file descriptor open for writing.

[`EDEADLK`]
  The argument function is `F_LOCK` and a deadlock is detected.
[`EINTR`]
  The argument function is F_LOCK and `lockf`() was interrupted by the delivery of a signal.
[`EINVAL`]
  The argument function is not one of `F_ULOCK`, `F_LOCK`, `F_TLOCK`, or `F_TEST`.

  The argument filedes refers to a file that does not support locking.

[`ENOLCK`]
  The argument function is `F_ULOCK`, `F_LOCK`, or `F_TLOCK`, and satisfying the lock or unlock request would result in the number of locked regions in the system exceeding a system-imposed limit.

# SEE ALSO

fcntl(2), flock(2)

# STANDARDS

The `lockf`() function conforms to X/Open Portability Guide Issue 4, Version 2 (“XPG4.2”).

September 11, 2022 | Debian