endhostent - Linux
Overview
endhostent()
terminates the scan through the host database maintained by the gethostent()
function. It is an important function that releases system resources allocated during the traversal of hostname entries.
Syntax
void endhostent(void);
Options/Flags
There are no options available for endhostent()
.
Examples
To parse hostnames and terminate the scan properly:
#include <netdb.h>
int main() {
struct hostent *hostinfo;
while ((hostinfo = gethostent())) {
// Process host information
}
endhostent();
return 0;
}
Common Issues
- Forgetting to call
endhostent()
: This can result in system resource leaks and unexpected behavior in subsequent calls to hostname-related functions. - Calling
endhostent()
multiple times: This has no adverse effects.
Integration
endhostent()
is crucial for proper resource management when used in conjunction with hostname traversal functions like gethostent()
. It is recommended to always call endhostent()
after completing hostname processing.
Related Commands
gethostent()
: Traverses and returns the next host entry from the system hostname database.gethostbyname()
: Retrieves host information for a given hostname.