SEM_OPEN(3)

NAME
sem_open, sem_close, sem_unlink - open and close named semaphores

SYNOPSIS
#include <semaphore.h>
sem_t *
sem_open(const char *name, int oflag, ...);
int
sem_close(sem_t *sem);
int
sem_unlink(const char *name);

DESCRIPTION
The sem_open() function opens and returns a named semaphore. The sem_close() function closes a previously opened named semaphore without removing it. The sem_unlink() function removes the named semaphore from the system without closing it.

RETURN VALUES
On success, sem_open() returns a pointer to a semaphore. sem_close() and sem_unlink() return 0 on success. sem_open() returns SEM_FAILED and sets errno to indicate an error. sem_close() and sem_unlink() return -1 and set errno to indicate an error.

ERRORS
It is an error to call sem_close() with an unnamed semaphore or to call sem_destroy() with a named semaphore.

sem_open() may fail if:

[ENOSPC]
    Insufficient memory is available.

[EPERM]
    An attempt was made to open a shared semaphore owned by another user.

sem_unlink() may fail for any of the reasons listed in unlink(2).

SEE ALSO
sem_destroy(3), sem_getvalue(3), sem_init(3), sem_post(3), sem_wait(3)

STANDARDS
sem_open(), sem_close(), and sem_unlink() appear in p1003.1-96. This implementation deviates from the standard by permitting less sharing.