EOF(3const) — Linux manual page

EOF(3const)                                                  EOF(3const)

NAME         top

       EOF - end of file or error indicator

LIBRARY         top

       Standard C library (libc)

SYNOPSIS         top

       #include <stdio.h>

       #define EOF  /* ... */

DESCRIPTION         top

       EOF represents the end of an input file, or an error indication.
       It is a negative value, of type int.

       EOF is not a character (it can't be represented by unsigned
       char).  It is instead a sentinel value outside of the valid range
       for valid characters.

CONFORMING TO         top

       C99 and later; POSIX.1-2001 and later.

CAVEATS         top

       Programs can't pass this value to an output function to "write"
       the end of a file.  That would likely result in undefined
       behavior.  Instead, closing the writing stream or file descriptor
       that refers to such file is the way to signal the end of that
       file.

SEE ALSO         top

       feof(3), fgetc(3)

Linux man-pages (unreleased)     (date)                      EOF(3const)

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