| EOF(3const) | EOF(3const) |
EOF - end of file or error indicator
Standard C library (libc)
#include <stdio.h>
#define EOF /* ... */
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.
C11, POSIX.1-2008.
C89, POSIX.1-2001.
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.
| 2024-05-26 | Linux man-pages 6.9.1 |