fflush()

Flush the buffers for a stream

Synopsis:

#include <stdio.h>

int fflush( FILE* fp );

Arguments:

fp
NULL, or the stream whose buffers you want to flush.

Library:

libc

Use the -l c option to qcc to link against this library. This library is usually included automatically.

Description:

If the stream specified by fp is open for output or update, the fflush() function causes any buffered (see setvbuf()) but unwritten data to be written to the file descriptor associated with the stream (see fileno()).

If the file specified by fp is open for input or update, the fflush() function undoes the effect of any preceding ungetc operation on the stream.

If fp is NULL, all open streams are flushed.

Returns:

0 for success, or EOF if an error occurs (errno is set).

Errors:

EAGAIN
The O_NONBLOCK flag is set for the file descriptor underlying fp, and the process would be delayed in the write operation.
EBADF
The file descriptor underlying fp isn't valid.
EFBIG
One of the following:
EINTR
The fflust() function was interrupted by a signal.
EIO
One of the following:
ENOSPC
There was no free space remaining on the device containing the file.
ENXIO
A request was made of a nonexistent device, or the request was outside the capabilities of the device.
EPIPE
An attempt was made to write to a pipe or FIFO that wasn't open for reading by any process. A SIGPIPE signal is also sent to the thread.

Examples:

#include <stdio.h>
#include <stdlib.h>

int main( void )
{
    printf( "Press Enter to continue..." );
    fflush( stdout );
    getchar();

    return EXIT_SUCCESS;
}

Classification:

ANSI, POSIX 1003.1

Safety:
Cancellation point Yes
Interrupt handler No
Signal handler No
Thread Yes

See also:

errno, fgetc(), fgets(), fileno(), flushall(), fopen(), getc(), gets(), setbuf(), setvbuf(), ungetc()