SYS-READ(2) SYS-READ(2)
NAME
read, write, pread, pwrite, stream - read or write file
SYNOPSIS
include "sys.m";
sys := load Sys Sys->PATH;
read: fn(fd: ref FD, buf: array of byte, nbytes: int): int;
readn: fn(fd: ref FD, buf: array of byte, nbytes: int): int;
write: fn(fd: ref FD, buf: array of byte, nbytes: int): int;
pread: fn(fd: ref FD, buf: array of byte, nbytes: int,
offset: big): int;
pwrite: fn(fd: ref FD, buf: array of byte, nbytes: int,
offset: big): int;
stream: fn(src, dst: ref FD, bufsiz: int): int;
DESCRIPTION
Read reads nbytes bytes of data from the offset in the file
associated with fd into memory at buf. The file offset is
advanced by the number of bytes read. It is not guaranteed
that all nbytes bytes will be read; for example if the file
refers to the console, at most one line will be returned.
In any event the number of bytes read is returned. A return
value of 0 is conventionally interpreted as end of file.
Readn continues to read from fd sequentially into buf, until
nbytes have been read, or read returns a non-positive count.
Write writes nbytes bytes of data starting at buf to the
file associated with fd at the file offset. The offset is
advanced by the number of bytes written. The number of
bytes actually written is returned. It should be regarded
as an error if this is not the same as requested.
Pread and pwrite take an explicit file offset as a parame-
ter, leaving fd's current offset untouched; they are other-
wise identical in behaviour to read and write. They are
particulary useful when several processes must access the
same fd concurrently and it is inconvenient or undesirable
to synchronise their activity to avoid interference.
Stream continually reads data from src, using a buffer of
bufsiz bytes, and writes the data to dst. It copies data
until a read fails (returning zero bytes or an error) or a
write fails. Stream returns the number of bytes actually
copied. The implementation may be more efficient than a
read/write loop in the application, but is otherwise equiva-
lent to calling read and write directly.
Page 1 Plan 9 (printed 12/22/24)
SYS-READ(2) SYS-READ(2)
SEE ALSO
bufio(2), sys-intro(2), sys-dup(2), sys-open(2), read(5)
Page 2 Plan 9 (printed 12/22/24)