xref: /freebsd/lib/libc/gen/ftok.3 (revision 1b6c76a2fe091c74f08427e6c870851025a9cf67)
1.\" Copyright (c) 1994 SigmaSoft, Th. Lockert <tholo@sigmasoft.com>
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26.\" $FreeBSD$
27.Dd June 24, 1994
28.Os
29.Dt FTOK 3
30.Sh NAME
31.Nm ftok
32.Nd create IPC identifier from path name
33.Sh LIBRARY
34.Lb libc
35.Sh SYNOPSIS
36.Fd #include <sys/types.h>
37.Fd #include <sys/ipc.h>
38.Ft key_t
39.Fn ftok "const char *path" "int id"
40.Sh DESCRIPTION
41.Bf -symbolic
42This function is available from the compatibility library, libcompat.
43.Ef
44The
45.Fn ftok
46function attempts to create a unique key suitable for use with the
47.Xr msgget 3 ,
48.Xr semget 2
49and
50.Xr shmget 2
51functions given the
52.Fa path
53of an existing file and a user-selectable
54.Fa id .
55.Pp
56The specified
57.Fa path
58must specify an existing file that is accessible to the calling process
59or the call will fail.  Also, note that links to files will return the
60same key, given the same
61.Fa id .
62.Sh RETURN VALUES
63The
64.Fn ftok
65function will return -1 if
66.Fa path
67does not exist or if it cannot be accessed by the calling process.
68.Sh SEE ALSO
69.Xr semget 2 ,
70.Xr shmget 2 ,
71.Xr msgget 3
72.Sh HISTORY
73The
74.Fn ftok
75function originates with System V and is typically used by programs
76that use the System V IPC routines.
77.Sh AUTHORS
78.An Thorsten Lockert Aq tholo@sigmasoft.com
79.Sh BUGS
80The returned key is computed based on the device minor number and inode of the
81specified
82.Fa path
83in combination with the lower 8 bits of the given
84.Fa id .
85Thus it is quite possible for the routine to return duplicate keys.
86