.\"	@(#)getpwent.3	6.1 (Berkeley) 05/15/85
.\"
.TH GETPWENT 3  ""
.AT 3
.SH NAME
getpwent, getpwuid, getpwnam, setpwent, endpwent, setpwfile \- get password file entry
.SH SYNOPSIS
.nf
.B #include <pwd.h>
.PP
.B struct passwd *getpwent()
.PP
.B struct passwd *getpwuid(uid)
.B int uid;
.PP
.B struct passwd *getpwnam(name)
.B char *name;
.PP
.B int setpwent()
.PP
.B int endpwent()
.PP
.B setpwfile(name)
.B char *name;
.fi
.SH DESCRIPTION
.I Getpwent,
.I getpwuid
and
.I getpwnam
each return a pointer to an object with the
following structure
containing the broken-out
fields of a line in the password file.
.RS
.PP
.nf
.so /usr/include/pwd.h
.ft R
.ad
.fi
.RE
.PP
The fields
.I pw_quota
and
.I pw_comment
are unused; the others have meanings described in
.IR passwd (5).
.PP
.I Getpwent
reads the next
line (opening the file if necessary);
.I setpwent
rewinds the file;
.I endpwent
closes it.
.PP
.I Setpwfile
changes the default password file to
.I name
thus allowing alternate password files to be used.
Note that it does
.I not
close the previous file.
If this is desired,
.I endpwent
should be called prior to it.
.PP
.I Getpwuid
and
.I getpwnam
search from the beginning until a matching
.I uid
or
.I name
is found
(or until EOF is encountered).
.SH FILES
/etc/passwd
.SH "SEE ALSO"
getlogin(3), getgrent(3), passwd(5)
.SH DIAGNOSTICS
Null pointer
(0) returned on EOF or error.
.SH BUGS
All information
is contained in a static area
so it must be copied if it is
to be saved.
.br