man > perlapio(1)

PERLAPIO(1)                       Perl Programmers Reference Guide                       PERLAPIO(1)

NAME
       perlapio - perl's IO abstraction interface.

SYNOPSIS
         #define PERLIO_NOT_STDIO 0    /* For co-existence with stdio only */
         #include <perlio.h>           /* Usually via #include <perl.h> */

         PerlIO *PerlIO_stdin(void);
         PerlIO *PerlIO_stdout(void);
         PerlIO *PerlIO_stderr(void);

         PerlIO *PerlIO_open(const char *path,const char *mode);
         PerlIO *PerlIO_fdopen(int fd, const char *mode);
         PerlIO *PerlIO_reopen(const char *path, /* deprecated */
                 const char *mode, PerlIO *old);
         int     PerlIO_close(PerlIO *f);

         int     PerlIO_stdoutf(const char *fmt,...)
         int     PerlIO_puts(PerlIO *f,const char *string);
         int     PerlIO_putc(PerlIO *f,int ch);
         SSize_t PerlIO_write(PerlIO *f,const void *buf,size_t numbytes);
         int     PerlIO_printf(PerlIO *f, const char *fmt,...);
         int     PerlIO_vprintf(PerlIO *f, const char *fmt, va_list args);
         int     PerlIO_flush(PerlIO *f);

         int     PerlIO_fill(PerlIO *f);
         int     PerlIO_eof(PerlIO *f);
         int     PerlIO_error(PerlIO *f);
         void    PerlIO_clearerr(PerlIO *f);

         int     PerlIO_getc(PerlIO *d);
         int     PerlIO_ungetc(PerlIO *f,int ch);
         SSize_t PerlIO_read(PerlIO *f, void *buf, size_t numbytes);
         Size_t  PerlIO_unread(PerlIO *f,const void *vbuf, size_t count

         int     PerlIO_fileno(PerlIO *f);

         void    PerlIO_setlinebuf(PerlIO *f);

         Off_t   PerlIO_tell(PerlIO *f);
         int     PerlIO_seek(PerlIO *f, Off_t offset, int whence);
         void    PerlIO_rewind(PerlIO *f);

         int     PerlIO_getpos(PerlIO *f, SV *save);    /* prototype changed */
         int     PerlIO_setpos(PerlIO *f, SV *saved);   /* prototype changed */

         int     PerlIO_fast_gets(PerlIO *f);
         int     PerlIO_has_cntptr(PerlIO *f);
         SSize_t PerlIO_get_cnt(PerlIO *f);
         char   *PerlIO_get_ptr(PerlIO *f);
         void    PerlIO_set_ptrcnt(PerlIO *f, char *ptr, SSize_t count);

         int     PerlIO_canset_cnt(PerlIO *f);              /* deprecated */
         void    PerlIO_set_cnt(PerlIO *f, int count);      /* deprecated */

         int     PerlIO_has_base(PerlIO *f);
         char   *PerlIO_get_base(PerlIO *f);
         SSize_t PerlIO_get_bufsiz(PerlIO *f);

         PerlIO *PerlIO_importFILE(FILE *stdio, const char *mode);
         FILE   *PerlIO_exportFILE(PerlIO *f, const char *mode);
         FILE   *PerlIO_findFILE(PerlIO *f);
         void    PerlIO_releaseFILE(PerlIO *f,FILE *stdio);

         int     PerlIO_apply_layers(pTHX_ PerlIO *f, const char *mode,
                                                           const char *layers);
         int     PerlIO_binmode(pTHX_ PerlIO *f, int ptype, int imode,
                                                           const char *layers);
         void    PerlIO_debug(const char *fmt,...);

DESCRIPTION
       Perl's source code, and extensions that want maximum portability, should use the above
       functions instead of those defined in ANSI C's stdio.h.  The perl headers (in particular
       "perlio.h") will "#define" them to the I/O mechanism selected at Configure time.

       The functions are modeled on those in stdio.h, but parameter order has been "tidied up a
       little".

       "PerlIO *" takes the place of FILE *. Like FILE * it should be treated as opaque (it is
       probably safe to assume it is a pointer to something).

       There are currently two implementations:

       1. USE_STDIO
           All  above  are  #define'd to stdio functions or are trivial wrapper functions which call
           stdio. In this case only PerlIO * is a FILE *.  This has been the default  implementation
           since the abstraction was introduced in perl5.003_02.

       2. USE_PERLIO
           Introduced  just  after  perl5.7.0,  this is a re-implementation of the above abstraction
           which allows perl more control over how IO is done as it decouples IO from  the  way  the
           operating  system and C library choose to do things. For USE_PERLIO PerlIO * has an extra
           layer of indirection - it is a pointer-to-a-pointer.  This allows the PerlIO * to  remain
           with  a  known  value while swapping the implementation around underneath at run time. In
           this case all the above are true (but very simple) functions which  call  the  underlying
           implementation.

           This   is   the   only  implementation  for  which  PerlIO_apply_layers()  does  anything
           "interesting".

           The USE_PERLIO implementation is described in perliol.

       Because "perlio.h" is a thin layer (for efficiency) the  semantics  of  these  functions  are
       somewhat  dependent  on the underlying implementation.  Where these variations are understood
       they are noted below.

       Unless otherwise noted, functions return 0 on success, or a  negative  value  (usually  "EOF"
       which is usually -1) and set "errno" on error.

       PerlIO_stdin(), PerlIO_stdout(), PerlIO_stderr()
           Use  these  rather  than  "stdin",  "stdout",  "stderr".  They  are  written to look like
           "function calls" rather than variables because this makes it easier to make them function
           calls if platform cannot export data to loaded modules, or if (say)  different  "threads"
           might have different values.

       PerlIO_open(path, mode), PerlIO_fdopen(fd,mode)
           These  correspond  to fopen()/fdopen() and the arguments are the same.  Return "NULL" and
           set "errno" if there is an error.  There may be an implementation limit on the number  of
           open handles, which may be lower than the limit on the number of open files - "errno" may
           not be set when "NULL" is returned if this limit is exceeded.

       PerlIO_reopen(path,mode,f)
           While this currently exists in both implementations, perl itself does not use it. As perl
           does not use it, it is not well tested.

           Perl prefers to "dup" the new low-level descriptor to the descriptor used by the existing
           PerlIO. This may become the behaviour of this function in the future.

       PerlIO_printf(f,fmt,...), PerlIO_vprintf(f,fmt,a)
           These are fprintf()/vfprintf() equivalents.

       PerlIO_stdoutf(fmt,...)
           This  is  printf()  equivalent. printf is #defined to this function, so it is (currently)
           legal to use "printf(fmt,...)" in perl sources.

       PerlIO_read(f,buf,count), PerlIO_write(f,buf,count)
           These correspond functionally to fread() and fwrite() but the arguments and return values
           are different.  The PerlIO_read() and PerlIO_write() signatures have been modeled on  the
           more  sane  low level read() and write() functions instead: The "file" argument is passed
           first, there is only one "count", and the return value can distinguish between error  and
           "EOF".

           Returns  a  byte  count  if  successful (which may be zero or positive), returns negative
           value and sets "errno" on error.  Depending on implementation "errno" may be  "EINTR"  if
           operation was interrupted by a signal.

       PerlIO_fill(f)
           Fills the buffer associated with "f" with data from the layer below.  "PerlIO_read" calls
           this as part of its normal operation.  Returns 0 upon success; -1 on failure.

       PerlIO_close(f)
           Depending  on  implementation  "errno"  may  be "EINTR" if operation was interrupted by a
           signal.

       PerlIO_puts(f,s), PerlIO_putc(f,c)
           These correspond to fputs() and fputc().  Note that arguments have been revised  to  have
           "file" first.

       PerlIO_ungetc(f,c)
           This  corresponds  to  ungetc().   Note  that  arguments have been revised to have "file"
           first.  Arranges that next read operation will return the byte c.   Despite  the  implied
           "character"  in the name only values in the range 0..0xFF are defined. Returns the byte c
           on success or -1 ("EOF") on error.  The number of bytes that can  be  "pushed  back"  may
           vary,  only  1  character  is certain, and then only if it is the last character that was
           read from the handle.

       PerlIO_unread(f,buf,count)
           This allows one to unget more than a single byte.  It effectively unshifts "count"  bytes
           onto  the  beginning  of the buffer "buf", so that the next read operation(s) will return
           them before anything else that was in the buffer.

           Returns the number of unread bytes.

       PerlIO_getc(f)
           This corresponds to getc().  Despite the c  in  the  name  only  byte  range  0..0xFF  is
           supported.  Returns the character read or -1 ("EOF") on error.

       PerlIO_eof(f)
           This  corresponds to feof().  Returns a true/false indication of whether the handle is at
           end of file.  For terminal devices this may or may  not  be  "sticky"  depending  on  the
           implementation.  The flag is cleared by PerlIO_seek(), or PerlIO_rewind().

       PerlIO_error(f)
           This  corresponds to ferror().  Returns a true/false indication of whether there has been
           an IO error on the handle.

       PerlIO_fileno(f)
           This corresponds to fileno(), note that on some platforms, the meaning  of  "fileno"  may
           not match Unix. Returns -1 if the handle has no open descriptor associated with it.

       PerlIO_clearerr(f)
           This  corresponds  to  clearerr(), i.e., clears 'error' and (usually) 'eof' flags for the
           "stream". Does not return a value.

       PerlIO_flush(f)
           This corresponds to fflush().  Sends any buffered write data to the underlying file.   If
           called  with  "NULL"  this  may  flush all open streams (or core dump with some USE_STDIO
           implementations).  Calling on a handle open for read only, or on which last operation was
           a read of some kind may lead to undefined behaviour on  some  USE_STDIO  implementations.
           The  USE_PERLIO  (layers)  implementation  tries  to  behave  better: it flushes all open
           streams when passed "NULL", and attempts to retain data on read  streams  either  in  the
           buffer or by seeking the handle to the current logical position.

       PerlIO_seek(f,offset,whence)
           This  corresponds  to  fseek().   Sends  buffered  write  data to the underlying file, or
           discards any buffered read data, then positions  the  file  descriptor  as  specified  by
           offset and whence (sic).  This is the correct thing to do when switching between read and
           write  on  the  same  handle  (see  issues with PerlIO_flush() above).  Offset is of type
           "Off_t" which is a perl Configure value which may not be same as stdio's "off_t".

       PerlIO_tell(f)
           This corresponds to ftell().  Returns the current file position, or (Off_t) -1 on  error.
           May  just  return  value  system  "knows"  without  making  a system call or checking the
           underlying file descriptor (so use on shared file  descriptors  is  not  safe  without  a
           PerlIO_seek()). Return value is of type "Off_t" which is a perl Configure value which may
           not be same as stdio's "off_t".

       PerlIO_getpos(f,p), PerlIO_setpos(f,p)
           These  correspond  (loosely)  to fgetpos() and fsetpos(). Rather than stdio's Fpos_t they
           expect a "Perl Scalar Value" to be passed. What is  stored  there  should  be  considered
           opaque.  The  layout of the data may vary from handle to handle.  When not using stdio or
           if platform does not have  the  stdio  calls  then  they  are  implemented  in  terms  of
           PerlIO_tell() and PerlIO_seek().

       PerlIO_rewind(f)
           This corresponds to rewind(). It is usually defined as being

               PerlIO_seek(f,(Off_t)0L, SEEK_SET);
               PerlIO_clearerr(f);

       PerlIO_tmpfile()
           This  corresponds  to tmpfile(), i.e., returns an anonymous PerlIO or NULL on error.  The
           system will attempt to automatically delete the file when closed.  On Unix  the  file  is
           usually "unlink"-ed just after it is created so it does not matter how it gets closed. On
           other  systems  the  file  may  only  be  deleted if closed via PerlIO_close() and/or the
           program exits via "exit".  Depending on the implementation there may be "race conditions"
           which allow other processes access to the file, though in general it  will  be  safer  in
           this regard than ad. hoc. schemes.

       PerlIO_setlinebuf(f)
           This  corresponds to setlinebuf().  Does not return a value. What constitutes a "line" is
           implementation dependent but usually means that writing "\n" flushes  the  buffer.   What
           happens  with  things  like  "this\nthat"  is  uncertain.   (Perl  core uses it only when
           "dumping"; it has nothing to do with $| auto-flush.)

   Co-existence with stdio
       There is outline support for co-existence of PerlIO  with  stdio.   Obviously  if  PerlIO  is
       implemented  in  terms  of  stdio there is no problem. However in other cases then mechanisms
       must exist to create a FILE * which can be passed to library code which is going to use stdio
       calls.

       The first step is to add this line:

          #define PERLIO_NOT_STDIO 0

       before including any perl header files. (This  will  probably  become  the  default  at  some
       point).   That  prevents  "perlio.h"  from  attempting to #define stdio functions onto PerlIO
       functions.

       XS code is probably better using "typemap" if it expects  FILE  *  arguments.   The  standard
       typemap will be adjusted to comprehend any changes in this area.

       PerlIO_importFILE(f,mode)
           Used to get a PerlIO * from a FILE *.

           The  mode  argument should be a string as would be passed to fopen/PerlIO_open.  If it is
           NULL then - for legacy support - the code will  (depending  upon  the  platform  and  the
           implementation)  either  attempt to empirically determine the mode in which f is open, or
           use "r+" to indicate a read/write stream.

           Once called the FILE * should ONLY be closed by calling PerlIO_close()  on  the  returned
           PerlIO *.

           The PerlIO is set to textmode. Use PerlIO_binmode if this is not the desired mode.

           This is not the reverse of PerlIO_exportFILE().

       PerlIO_exportFILE(f,mode)
           Given  a  PerlIO  * create a 'native' FILE * suitable for passing to code expecting to be
           compiled and linked with ANSI C stdio.h.  The mode argument should be a string  as  would
           be  passed to fopen/PerlIO_open.  If it is NULL then - for legacy support - the FILE * is
           opened in same mode as the PerlIO *.

           The fact that such a FILE * has been 'exported' is recorded, (normally by pushing  a  new
           :stdio  "layer"  onto  the  PerlIO  *),  which may affect future PerlIO operations on the
           original  PerlIO  *.   You  should  not  call  fclose()  on  the  file  unless  you  call
           PerlIO_releaseFILE()   to   disassociate   it   from   the   PerlIO   *.    (Do  not  use
           PerlIO_importFILE() for doing the disassociation.)

           Calling this function repeatedly will create a FILE * on each  call  (and  will  push  an
           :stdio layer each time as well).

       PerlIO_releaseFILE(p,f)
           Calling  PerlIO_releaseFILE  informs  PerlIO  that  all  use of FILE * is complete. It is
           removed from the list of 'exported' FILE *s, and the associated PerlIO * should revert to
           its original behaviour.

           Use  this  to  disassociate  a  file  from  a  PerlIO  *  that   was   associated   using
           PerlIO_exportFILE().

       PerlIO_findFILE(f)
           Returns  a native FILE * used by a stdio layer. If there is none, it will create one with
           PerlIO_exportFILE. In either case the FILE * should be considered as belonging to  PerlIO
           subsystem and should only be closed by calling PerlIO_close().

   "Fast gets" Functions
       In  addition to standard-like API defined so far above there is an "implementation" interface
       which allows perl to get at internals of PerlIO.   The  following  calls  correspond  to  the
       various   FILE_xxx   macros   determined   by  Configure  -  or  their  equivalent  in  other
       implementations. This section is really of interest to only  those  concerned  with  detailed
       perl-core  behaviour, implementing a PerlIO mapping or writing code which can make use of the
       "read ahead" that has been done by the IO system in the same way perl  does.  Note  that  any
       code that uses these interfaces must be prepared to do things the traditional way if a handle
       does not support them.

       PerlIO_fast_gets(f)
           Returns  true if implementation has all the interfaces required to allow perl's "sv_gets"
           to "bypass" normal IO mechanism.  This can vary from handle to handle.

             PerlIO_fast_gets(f) = PerlIO_has_cntptr(f) && \
                                   PerlIO_canset_cnt(f) && \
                                   'Can set pointer into buffer'

       PerlIO_has_cntptr(f)
           Implementation can return pointer to current position in the  "buffer"  and  a  count  of
           bytes available in the buffer.  Do not use this - use PerlIO_fast_gets.

       PerlIO_get_cnt(f)
           Return count of readable bytes in the buffer. Zero or negative return means no more bytes
           available.

       PerlIO_get_ptr(f)
           Return pointer to next readable byte in buffer, accessing via the pointer (dereferencing)
           is only safe if PerlIO_get_cnt() has returned a positive value.  Only positive offsets up
           to value returned by PerlIO_get_cnt() are allowed.

       PerlIO_set_ptrcnt(f,p,c)
           Set pointer into buffer, and a count of bytes still in the buffer. Should be used only to
           set   pointer  to  within  range  implied  by  previous  calls  to  "PerlIO_get_ptr"  and
           "PerlIO_get_cnt". The two values must be consistent with each other  (implementation  may
           only use one or the other or may require both).

       PerlIO_canset_cnt(f)
           Implementation  can  adjust its idea of number of bytes in the buffer.  Do not use this -
           use PerlIO_fast_gets.

       PerlIO_set_cnt(f,c)
           Obscure  -  set  count  of  bytes  in   the   buffer.   Deprecated.    Only   usable   if
           PerlIO_canset_cnt() returns true.  Currently used in only doio.c to force count less than
           -1  to  -1.   Perhaps  should  be PerlIO_set_empty or similar.  This call may actually do
           nothing if "count" is deduced from pointer  and  a  "limit".   Do  not  use  this  -  use
           PerlIO_set_ptrcnt().

       PerlIO_has_base(f)
           Returns  true  if implementation has a buffer, and can return pointer to whole buffer and
           its size. Used by perl for -T / -B tests.  Other uses would be very obscure...

       PerlIO_get_base(f)
           Return start of buffer. Access only positive offsets  in  the  buffer  up  to  the  value
           returned by PerlIO_get_bufsiz().

       PerlIO_get_bufsiz(f)
           Return  the  total  number of bytes in the buffer, this is neither the number that can be
           read, nor the amount of memory allocated to the buffer. Rather it is what  the  operating
           system and/or implementation happened to read() (or whatever) last time IO was requested.

   Other Functions
       PerlIO_apply_layers(aTHX_ f,mode,layers)
           The new interface to the USE_PERLIO implementation. The layers ":crlf" and ":raw" are the
           only  ones  allowed  for  other  implementations  and  those are silently ignored. (As of
           perl5.8 ":raw" is deprecated.)  Use PerlIO_binmode() below for the portable case.

       PerlIO_binmode(aTHX_ f,ptype,imode,layers)
           The hook used by perl's "binmode" operator.  ptype is perl's character for  the  kind  of
           IO:

           '<' read
           '>' write
           '+' read/write

           imode is "O_BINARY" or "O_TEXT".

           layers  is  a  string  of layers to apply; only ":crlf" makes sense in the non-USE_PERLIO
           case. (As of perl5.8 ":raw" is deprecated in favour of passing NULL.)

           Portable cases are:

               PerlIO_binmode(aTHX_ f,ptype,O_BINARY,NULL);
           and
               PerlIO_binmode(aTHX_ f,ptype,O_TEXT,":crlf");

           On Unix these calls probably have no effect whatsoever.  Elsewhere  they  alter  "\n"  to
           CR,LF translation and possibly cause a special text "end of file" indicator to be written
           or  honoured  on  read.  The  effect  of making the call after doing any IO to the handle
           depends on the implementation. (It may be ignored,  affect  any  data  which  is  already
           buffered as well, or only apply to subsequent data.)

       PerlIO_debug(fmt,...)
           PerlIO_debug  is  a  printf()-like  function  which can be used for debugging.  No return
           value. Its main use  is  inside  PerlIO  where  using  real  printf,  warn()  etc.  would
           recursively call PerlIO and be a problem.

           PerlIO_debug  writes  to  the file named by $ENV{'PERLIO_DEBUG'} or defaults to stderr if
           the environment variable is not defined. Typical use might be

             Bourne shells (sh, ksh, bash, zsh, ash, ...):
              PERLIO_DEBUG=/tmp/perliodebug.log ./perl -Di somescript some args

             Csh/Tcsh:
              setenv PERLIO_DEBUG /tmp/perliodebug.log
              ./perl -Di somescript some args

             If you have the "env" utility:
              env PERLIO_DEBUG=/tmp/perliodebug.log ./perl -Di somescript args

             Win32:
              set PERLIO_DEBUG=perliodebug.log
              perl -Di somescript some args

           On a Perl built without "-DDEBUGGING", or when  the  "-Di"  command-line  switch  is  not
           specified, or under taint, PerlIO_debug() is a no-op.

perl v5.38.2                                 2026-08-18                                  PERLAPIO(1)
perlapio(1) □✕
NAME SYNOPSIS DESCRIPTION
PerlIO_reopen(path,mode,f) PerlIO_stdoutf(fmt,...) PerlIO_fill(f) PerlIO_close(f) PerlIO_ungetc(f,c) PerlIO_unread(f,buf,count) PerlIO_getc(f) PerlIO_eof(f) PerlIO_error(f) PerlIO_fileno(f) PerlIO_clearerr(f) PerlIO_flush(f) PerlIO_seek(f,offset,whence) PerlIO_tell(f) PerlIO_rewind(f) PerlIO_tmpfile() PerlIO_setlinebuf(f) Co-existence with stdio PerlIO_importFILE(f,mode) PerlIO_exportFILE(f,mode) PerlIO_releaseFILE(p,f) PerlIO_findFILE(f) "Fast gets" Functions PerlIO_fast_gets(f) PerlIO_has_cntptr(f) PerlIO_get_cnt(f) PerlIO_get_ptr(f) PerlIO_set_ptrcnt(f,p,c) PerlIO_canset_cnt(f) PerlIO_set_cnt(f,c) PerlIO_has_base(f) PerlIO_get_base(f) PerlIO_get_bufsiz(f) Other Functions

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