xdr_array() translates between variable-length arrays and their corresponding external representations. The parameter arrp is the address of the pointer to the array, while sizep is the address of the element count of the array; this element count cannot exceed maxsize. The parameter elsize is the size of each of the array's elements, and elproc is an XDR routine that translates between the array elements' C form and their external representation. If *aarp is NULL when decoding, xdr_array() allocates memory and *aarp points to it. This routine returns TRUE if it succeeds, FALSE otherwise.

xdr_bytes() translates between counted byte strings and their external representations. The parameter sp is the address of the string pointer. The length of the string is located at address sizep; strings cannot be longer than maxsize. If *sp is NULL when decoding, xdr_bytes() allocates memory and *sp points to it. This routine returns TRUE if it succeeds, FALSE otherwise.

xdr_opaque() translates between fixed size opaque data and its external representation. The parameter cp is the address of the opaque object, and cnt is its size in bytes. This routine returns TRUE if it succeeds, FALSE otherwise.

Like xdr_reference() except that it serializes null pointers, whereas xdr_reference() does not. Thus, xdr_pointer() can represent recursive data structures, such as binary trees or linked lists. If *objpp is NULL when decoding, xdr_pointer() allocates memory and *objpp points to it.

xdr_reference() provides pointer chasing within structures. The parameter pp is the address of the pointer; size is the sizeof the structure that *pp points to; and proc is an XDR procedure that translates the structure between its C form and its external representation. If *pp is NULL when decoding, xdr_reference() allocates memory and *pp points to it. This routine returns 1 if it succeeds, 0 otherwise. Warning: this routine does not understand null pointers. Use xdr_pointer() instead.

xdr_string() translates between C strings and their corresponding external representations. Strings cannot be longer than maxsize. Note: sp is the address of the string's pointer. If *sp is NULL when decoding, xdr_string() allocates memory and *sp points to it. This routine returns TRUE if it succeeds, FALSE otherwise. Note: xdr_string() can be used to send an empty string ("\|"), but not a null string.

xdr_union() translates between a discriminated C union and its corresponding external representation. It first translates the discriminant of the union located at dscmp. This discriminant is always an enum_t. Next the union located at unp is translated. The parameter choices is a pointer to an array of xdr_discrim structures. Each structure contains an ordered pair of [value, proc]. If the union's discriminant is equal to the associated value, then the proc is called to translate the union. The end of the xdr_discrim structure array is denoted by a routine of value NULL. If the discriminant is not found in the choices array, then the defaultarm procedure is called (if it is not NULL). It returns TRUE if it succeeds, FALSE otherwise.

xdr_vector() translates between fixed-length arrays and their corresponding external representations. The parameter arrp is the address of the pointer to the array, while size is the element count of the array. The parameter elsize is the sizeof each of the array's elements, and elproc is an XDR routine that translates between the array elements' C form and their external representation. This routine returns TRUE if it succeeds, FALSE otherwise.

A routine that calls xdr_string(xdrs, sp, maxuint); where maxuint is the maximum value of an unsigned integer. Many routines, such as xdr_array(), xdr_pointer(), and xdr_vector() take a function pointer of type xdrproc_t(), which takes two arguments. xdr_string(), one of the most frequently used routines, requires three arguments, while xdr_wrapstring() only requires two. For these routines, xdr_wrapstring() is desirable. This routine returns TRUE if it succeeds, FALSE otherwise.