TMPNAM(3) NEWLIB TMPNAM(3)NAME
4.65 `tmpnam', `tempnam'--name for a temporary file
SYNOPSIS
#include <stdio.h>
char *tmpnam(char *S);
char *tempnam(char *DIR, char *PFX);
char *_tmpnam_r(struct _reent *REENT, char *S);
char *_tempnam_r(struct _reent *REENT, char *DIR, char *PFX);
DESCRIPTION
Use either of these functions to generate a name for a temporary file.
The generated name is guaranteed to avoid collision with other files
(for up to `TMP_MAX' calls of either function).
`tmpnam' generates file names with the value of `P_tmpdir' (defined
in ``stdio.h'') as the leading directory component of the path.
You can use the `tmpnam' argument S to specify a suitable area of
memory for the generated filename; otherwise, you can call `tmp‐
nam(NULL)' to use an internal static buffer.
`tempnam' allows you more control over the generated filename: you
can use the argument DIR to specify the path to a directory for tempo‐
rary files, and you can use the argument PFX to specify a prefix for
the base filename.
If DIR is `NULL', `tempnam' will attempt to use the value of envi‐
ronment variable `TMPDIR' instead; if there is no such value, `tempnam'
uses the value of `P_tmpdir' (defined in ``stdio.h'').
If you don't need any particular prefix to the basename of temporary
files, you can pass `NULL' as the PFX argument to `tempnam'.
`_tmpnam_r' and `_tempnam_r' are reentrant versions of `tmpnam' and
`tempnam' respectively. The extra argument REENT is a pointer to a
reentrancy structure.
*Warnings*
The generated filenames are suitable for temporary files, but do not in
themselves make files temporary. Files with these names must still be
explicitly removed when you no longer want them.
If you supply your own data area S for `tmpnam', you must ensure
that it has room for at least `L_tmpnam' elements of type `char'.
RETURNS
Both `tmpnam' and `tempnam' return a pointer to the newly generated
filename.
PORTABILITY
ANSI C requires `tmpnam', but does not specify the use of `P_tmpdir'.
The System V Interface Definition (Issue 2) requires both `tmpnam' and
`tempnam'.
Supporting OS subroutines required: `close', `fstat', `getpid',
`isatty', `lseek', `open', `read', `sbrk', `write'.
The global pointer `environ' is also required.
SEE ALSOtmpnam is part of the library. The full documentation for is main‐
tained as a Texinfo manual. If info and are properly installed at your
site, the command
info
will give you access to the complete manual.
NEWLIB April 2010 TMPNAM(3)
