blob: 8a34826ebe39c159c96564929a9a6efe536c5dbf [file] [log] [blame]
<html lang="en">
<head>
<title>I/O Overview - The GNU C Library</title>
<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html">
<meta name="description" content="The GNU C Library">
<meta name="generator" content="makeinfo 4.13">
<link title="Top" rel="start" href="index.html#Top">
<link rel="prev" href="Pattern-Matching.html#Pattern-Matching" title="Pattern Matching">
<link rel="next" href="I_002fO-on-Streams.html#I_002fO-on-Streams" title="I/O on Streams">
<link href="http://www.gnu.org/software/texinfo/" rel="generator-home" title="Texinfo Homepage">
<!--
This file documents the GNU C library.
This is Edition 0.12, last updated 2007-10-27,
of `The GNU C Library Reference Manual', for version
2.8 (Sourcery G++ Lite 2011.03-41).
Copyright (C) 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2002,
2003, 2007, 2008, 2010 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document
under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.3 or
any later version published by the Free Software Foundation; with the
Invariant Sections being ``Free Software Needs Free Documentation''
and ``GNU Lesser General Public License'', the Front-Cover texts being
``A GNU Manual'', and with the Back-Cover Texts as in (a) below. A
copy of the license is included in the section entitled "GNU Free
Documentation License".
(a) The FSF's Back-Cover Text is: ``You have the freedom to
copy and modify this GNU manual. Buying copies from the FSF
supports it in developing GNU and promoting software freedom.''-->
<meta http-equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css">
<style type="text/css"><!--
pre.display { font-family:inherit }
pre.format { font-family:inherit }
pre.smalldisplay { font-family:inherit; font-size:smaller }
pre.smallformat { font-family:inherit; font-size:smaller }
pre.smallexample { font-size:smaller }
pre.smalllisp { font-size:smaller }
span.sc { font-variant:small-caps }
span.roman { font-family:serif; font-weight:normal; }
span.sansserif { font-family:sans-serif; font-weight:normal; }
--></style>
<link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="../cs.css">
</head>
<body>
<div class="node">
<a name="I%2fO-Overview"></a>
<a name="I_002fO-Overview"></a>
<p>
Next:&nbsp;<a rel="next" accesskey="n" href="I_002fO-on-Streams.html#I_002fO-on-Streams">I/O on Streams</a>,
Previous:&nbsp;<a rel="previous" accesskey="p" href="Pattern-Matching.html#Pattern-Matching">Pattern Matching</a>,
Up:&nbsp;<a rel="up" accesskey="u" href="index.html#Top">Top</a>
<hr>
</div>
<!-- %MENU% Introduction to the I/O facilities -->
<h2 class="chapter">11 Input/Output Overview</h2>
<p>Most programs need to do either input (reading data) or output (writing
data), or most frequently both, in order to do anything useful. The GNU
C library provides such a large selection of input and output functions
that the hardest part is often deciding which function is most
appropriate!
<p>This chapter introduces concepts and terminology relating to input
and output. Other chapters relating to the GNU I/O facilities are:
<ul>
<li><a href="I_002fO-on-Streams.html#I_002fO-on-Streams">I/O on Streams</a>, which covers the high-level functions
that operate on streams, including formatted input and output.
<li><a href="Low_002dLevel-I_002fO.html#Low_002dLevel-I_002fO">Low-Level I/O</a>, which covers the basic I/O and control
functions on file descriptors.
<li><a href="File-System-Interface.html#File-System-Interface">File System Interface</a>, which covers functions for operating on
directories and for manipulating file attributes such as access modes
and ownership.
<li><a href="Pipes-and-FIFOs.html#Pipes-and-FIFOs">Pipes and FIFOs</a>, which includes information on the basic interprocess
communication facilities.
<li><a href="Sockets.html#Sockets">Sockets</a>, which covers a more complicated interprocess communication
facility with support for networking.
<li><a href="Low_002dLevel-Terminal-Interface.html#Low_002dLevel-Terminal-Interface">Low-Level Terminal Interface</a>, which covers functions for changing
how input and output to terminals or other serial devices are processed.
</ul>
<ul class="menu">
<li><a accesskey="1" href="I_002fO-Concepts.html#I_002fO-Concepts">I/O Concepts</a>: Some basic information and terminology.
<li><a accesskey="2" href="File-Names.html#File-Names">File Names</a>: How to refer to a file.
</ul>
</body></html>