limits.h - implementation-dependent constants
#include <limits.h>
The <limits.h> header defines various symbolic names. Different categories of names are described below.The names represent various limits on resources that the system imposes on applications.
Implementations may choose any appropriate value for each limit, provided it is not more restrictive than the Minimum Acceptable Values listed below. Symbolic constant names beginning with _POSIX may be found in <unistd.h>.
Applications should not assume any particular value for a limit. To achieve maximum portability, an application should not require more resource than the Minimum Acceptable Value quantity. However, an application wishing to avail itself of the full amount of a resource available on an implementation may make use of the value given in <limits.h> on that particular system, by using the symbolic names listed below. It should be noted, however, that many of the listed limits are not invariant, and at run time, the value of the limit may differ from those given in this header, for the following reasons:
- The limit is pathname-dependent.
- The limit differs between the compile and run-time machines.
For these reasons, an application may use the fpathconf(), pathconf() and sysconf() functions to determine the actual value of a limit at run time.
The items in the list ending in _MIN give the most negative values that the mathematical types are guaranteed to be capable of representing. Numbers of a more negative value may be supported on some systems, as indicated by the <limits.h> header on the system, but applications requiring such numbers are not guaranteed to be portable to all systems.
The Minimum Acceptable Value symbol * indicates that there is no guaranteed value across all XSI-conformant systems.
Run-time Invariant Values (Possibly Indeterminate)
A definition of one of the symbolic names in the following list will be omitted from <limits.h> on specific implementations where the corresponding value is equal to or greater than the stated minimum, but is indeterminate.This might depend on the amount of available memory space on a specific instance of a specific implementation. The actual value supported by a specific instance will be provided by the sysconf() function.
- AIO_LISTIO_MAX
- Maximum number of I/O operations in a single list I/O call supported by the implementation. Minimum Acceptable Value: _POSIX_AIO_LISTIO_MAX
- AIO_MAX
- Maximum number of outstanding asynchronous I/O operations supported by the implementation. Minimum Acceptable Value: _POSIX_AIO_MAX
- AIO_PRIO_DELTA_MAX
- The maximum amount by which a process can decrease its asynchronous I/O priority level from its own scheduling priority. Minimum Acceptable Value: 0
- ARG_MAX
- Maximum length of argument to the exec functions including environment data. Minimum Acceptable Value: _POSIX_ARG_MAX
- ATEXIT_MAX
- Maximum number of functions that may be registered with atexit(). Minimum Acceptable Value: 32
- CHILD_MAX
- Maximum number of simultaneous processes per real user ID. Minimum Acceptable Value: 25
- DELAYTIMER_MAX
- Maximum number of timer expiration overruns. Minimum Acceptable Value: _POSIX_DELAYTIMER_MAX
- IOV_MAX
- Maximum number of iovec structures that one process has available for use with readv() or writev(). Minimum Acceptable Value: _XOPEN_IOV_MAX
- LOGIN_NAME_MAX
- Maximum length of a login name. Minimum Acceptable Value: _POSIX_LOGIN_NAME_MAX
- MQ_OPEN_MAX
- The maximum number of open message queue descriptors a process may hold. Minimum Acceptable Value: _POSIX_MQ_OPEN_MAX
- MQ_PRIO_MAX
- The maximum number of message priorities supported by the implementation. Minimum Acceptable Value: _POSIX_MQ_PRIO_MAX
- OPEN_MAX
- Maximum number of files that one process can have open at any one time. Minimum Acceptable Value: 20
- PAGESIZE
- Size in bytes of a page. Minimum Acceptable Value: 1
- PAGE_SIZE
- Same as PAGESIZE. If either PAGESIZE or PAGE_SIZE is defined, the other will be defined with the same value.
- PASS_MAX
- Maximum number of significant bytes in a password (not including terminating null). (LEGACY) Minimum Acceptable Value: 8
- PTHREAD_DESTRUCTOR_ITERATIONS
- Maximum number of attempts made to destroy a thread's thread-specific data values on thread exit. Minimum Acceptable Value: _POSIX_THREAD_DESTRUCTOR_ITERATIONS
- PTHREAD_KEYS_MAX
- Maximum number of data keys that can be created by a process. Minimum Acceptable Value: _POSIX_THREAD_KEYS_MAX
- PTHREAD_STACK_MIN
- Minimum size in bytes of thread stack storage. Minimum Acceptable Value: 0
- PTHREAD_THREADS_MAX
- Maximum number of threads that that can be created per process. Minimum Acceptable Value: _POSIX_THREAD_THREADS_MAX
- RTSIG_MAX
- Maximum number of realtime signals reserved for application use in this implementation. Minimum Acceptable Value: _POSIX_RTSIG_MAX
- SEM_NSEMS_MAX
- Maximum number of semaphores that a process may have. Minimum Acceptable Value: _POSIX_SEM_NSEMS_MAX
- SEM_VALUE_MAX
- The maximum value a semaphore may have. Minimum Acceptable Value: _POSIX_SEM_VALUE_MAX
- SIGQUEUE_MAX
- Maximum number of queued signals that a process may send and have pending at the receiver(s) at any time. Minimum Acceptable Value: _POSIX_SIGQUEUE_MAX
- STREAM_MAX
- The number of streams that one process can have open at one time. If defined, it has the same value as {FOPEN_MAX} (see <stdio.h>). Minimum Acceptable Value: _POSIX_STREAM_MAX
- TIMER_MAX
- Maximum number of timers per-process supported by the implementation. Minimum Acceptable Value: _POSIX_TIMER_MAX
- TTY_NAME_MAX
- Maximum length of terminal device name. Minimum Acceptable Value: _POSIX_TTY_NAME_MAX
- TZNAME_MAX
- Maximum number of bytes supported for the name of a time zone (not of the TZ variable). Minimum Acceptable Value: _POSIX_TZNAME_MAX
Pathname Variable Values
The values in the following list may be constants within an implementation or may vary from one pathname to another. For example, file systems or directories may have different characteristics.
A definition of one of the values will be omitted from the <limits.h> header on specific implementations where the corresponding value is equal to or greater than the stated minimum, but where the value can vary depending on the file to which it is applied. The actual value supported for a specific pathname will be provided by the pathconf() function.
- FILESIZEBITS
- Minimum number of bits needed to represent, as a signed integer value, the maximum size of a regular file allowed in the specified directory. Minimum Acceptable Value: 32
- LINK_MAX
- Maximum number of links to a single file. Minimum Acceptable Value: _POSIX_LINK_MAX
- MAX_CANON
- Maximum number of bytes in a terminal canonical input line. Minimum Acceptable Value: _POSIX_MAX_CANON
- MAX_INPUT
- Minimum number of bytes for which space will be available in a terminal input queue; therefore, the maximum number of bytes a portable application may require to be typed as input before reading them. Minimum Acceptable Value: _POSIX_MAX_INPUT
- NAME_MAX
- Maximum number of bytes in a filename (not including terminating null). Minimum Acceptable Value: _POSIX_NAME_MAX
- PATH_MAX
- Maximum number of bytes in a pathname, including the terminating null character. Minimum Acceptable Value: _POSIX_PATH_MAX
- PIPE_BUF
- Maximum number of bytes that is guaranteed to be atomic when writing to a pipe. Minimum Acceptable Value: _POSIX_PIPE_BUF
Run-time Increasable Values
The magnitude limitations in the following list will be fixed by specific implementations. An application should assume that the value supplied by <limits.h> in a specific implementation is the minimum that pertains whenever the application is run under that implementation. A specific instance of a specific implementation may increase the value relative to that supplied by <limits.h> for that implementation. The actual value supported by a specific instance will be provided by the sysconf() function.
- BC_BASE_MAX
- Maximum obase values allowed by the bc utility. Minimum Acceptable Value: _POSIX2_BC_BASE_MAX
- BC_DIM_MAX
- Maximum number of elements permitted in an array by the bc utility. Minimum Acceptable Value: _POSIX2_BC_DIM_MAX
- BC_SCALE_MAX
- Maximum scale value allowed by the bc utility. Minimum Acceptable Value: _POSIX2_BC_SCALE_MAX
- BC_STRING_MAX
- Maximum length of a string constant accepted by the bc utility. Minimum Acceptable Value: _POSIX2_BC_STRING_MAX
- COLL_WEIGHTS_MAX
- Maximum number of weights that can be assigned to an entry of the LC_COLLATE order keyword in the locale definition file; see the XBD specification, Locale . Minimum Acceptable Value: _POSIX2_COLL_WEIGHTS_MAX
- EXPR_NEST_MAX
- Maximum number of expressions that can be nested within parentheses by the expr utility. Minimum Acceptable Value: _POSIX2_EXPR_NEST_MAX
- LINE_MAX
- Unless otherwise noted, the maximum length, in bytes, of a utility's input line (either standard input or another file), when the utility is described as processing text files. The length includes room for the trailing newline. Minimum Acceptable Value: _POSIX2_LINE_MAX
- NGROUPS_MAX
- Maximum number of simultaneous supplementary group IDs per process. Minimum Acceptable Value: 8
- RE_DUP_MAX
- Maximum number of repeated occurrences of a regular expression permitted when using the interval notation \{m,n\}; see the XBD specification, Regular Expressions . Minimum Acceptable Value: _POSIX2_RE_DUP_MAX
Maximum Values
The symbolic constants in the following list are defined in <limits.h> with the values shown. These are symbolic names for the most restrictive value for certain features on a system supporting the Realtime Feature Group. A conforming implementation will provide values no larger than these values. A portable application will not require a smaller value for correct operation.
- _POSIX_CLOCKRES_MIN
- The CLOCK_REALTIME clock resolution, in nanoseconds Value: 20 000 000
Minimum Values
The symbolic constants in the following list are defined in <limits.h> with the values shown. These are symbolic names for the most restrictive value for certain features on a system conforming to this specification. Related symbolic constants are defined elsewhere in this specification which reflect the actual implementation and which need not be as restrictive. A conforming implementation will provide values at least this large. A portable application must not require a larger value for correct operation.
- _POSIX_AIO_LISTIO_MAX
- The number of I/O operations that can be specified in a list I/O call. Value: 2
- _POSIX_AIO_MAX
- The number of outstanding asynchronous I/O operations. Value: 1
- _POSIX_ARG_MAX
- Maximum length of argument to the exec functions including environment data. Value: 4 096
- _POSIX_CHILD_MAX
- Maximum number of simultaneous processes per real user ID. Value: 6
- _POSIX_DELAYTIMER_MAX
- The number of timer expiration overruns. Value: 32
- _POSIX_LINK_MAX
- Maximum number of links to a single file. Value: 8
- _POSIX_LOGIN_NAME_MAX
- The size of the storage required for a login name, in bytes, including the terminating null. Value: 9
- _POSIX_MAX_CANON
- Maximum number of bytes in a terminal canonical input queue. Value: 255
- _POSIX_MAX_INPUT
- Maximum number of bytes allowed in a terminal input queue. Value: 255
- _POSIX_MQ_OPEN_MAX
- The number of message queues that can be open for a single process. Value: 8
- _POSIX_MQ_PRIO_MAX
- The maximum number of message priorities supported by the implementation. Value: 32
- _POSIX_NAME_MAX
- Maximum number of bytes in a filename (not including terminating null). Value: 14
- _POSIX_NGROUPS_MAX
- Maximum number of simultaneous supplementary group IDs per process. Value: 0
- _POSIX_OPEN_MAX
- Maximum number of files that one process can have open at any one time. Value: 16
- _POSIX_PATH_MAX
- Maximum number of bytes in a pathname. Value: 255
- _POSIX_PIPE_BUF
- Maximum number of bytes that is guaranteed to be atomic when writing to a pipe. Value: 512
- _POSIX_RTSIG_MAX
- The number of realtime signal numbers reserved for application use. Value: 8
- _POSIX_SEM_NSEMS_MAX
- The number of semaphores that a process may have. Value: 256
- _POSIX_SEM_VALUE_MAX
- The maximum value a semaphore may have. Value: 32 767
- _POSIX_SIGQUEUE_MAX
- The number of queued signals that a process may send and have pending at the receiver(s) at any time. Value: 32
- _POSIX_SSIZE_MAX
- The value that can be stored in an object of type ssize_t. Value: 32 767
- _POSIX_STREAM_MAX
- The number of streams that one process can have open at one time. Value: 8
- _POSIX_THREAD_DESTRUCTOR_ITERATIONS
- The number of attempts made to destroy a thread's thread-specific data values on thread exit. Value: 4
- _POSIX_THREAD_KEYS_MAX
- The number of data keys per process. Value: 128
- _POSIX_THREAD_THREADS_MAX
- The number of threads per process. Value: 64
- _POSIX_TIMER_MAX
- The per process number of timers. Value: 32
- _POSIX_TTY_NAME_MAX
- The size of the storage required for a terminal device name, in bytes, including the terminating null. Value: 9
- _POSIX_TZNAME_MAX
- Maximum number of bytes supported for the name of a time zone (not of TZ variable). Value: 3
- _POSIX2_BC_BASE_MAX
- Maximum obase values allowed by the bc utility. Value: 99
- _POSIX2_BC_DIM_MAX
- Maximum number of elements permitted in an array by the bc utility. Value: 2 048
- _POSIX2_BC_SCALE_MAX
- Maximum scale value allowed by the bc utility. Value: 99
- _POSIX2_BC_STRING_MAX
- Maximum length of a string constant accepted by the bc utility. Value: 1 000
- _POSIX2_COLL_WEIGHTS_MAX
- Maximum number of weights that can be assigned to an entry of the LC_COLLATE order keyword in the locale definition file; see the XBD specification, Locale . Value: 2
- _POSIX2_EXPR_NEST_MAX
- Maximum number of expressions that can be nested within parentheses by the expr utility. Value: 32
- _POSIX2_LINE_MAX
- Unless otherwise noted, the maximum length, in bytes, of a utility's input line (either standard input or another file), when the utility is described as processing text files. The length includes room for the trailing newline. Value: 2 048
- _POSIX2_RE_DUP_MAX
- Maximum number of repeated occurrences of a regular expression permitted when using the interval notation \{m,n\}; see the XBD specification, Regular Expressions . Value: 255
- _XOPEN_IOV_MAX
- Maximum number of iovec structures that one process has available for use with readv() or writev(). Value: 16
Numerical Limits
The values in the following lists are defined in <limits.h> and will be constant expressions suitable for use in #if preprocessing directives. Moreover, except for CHAR_BIT, DBL_DIG, DBL_MAX, FLT_DIG, FLT_MAX, LONG_BIT, WORD_BIT and MB_LEN_MAX, the symbolic names will be defined as expressions of the correct type.
If the value of an object of type char is treated as a signed integer when used in an expression, the value of CHAR_MIN is the same as that of SCHAR_MIN and the value of CHAR_MAX is the same as that of SCHAR_MAX. Otherwise, the value of CHAR_MIN is 0 and the value of CHAR_MAX is the same as that of UCHAR_MAX.
- CHAR_BIT
- Number of bits in a type char. Minimum Acceptable Value: 8
- CHAR_MAX
- Maximum value of a type char. Minimum Acceptable Value: UCHAR_MAX or SCHAR_MAX
- DBL_DIG
- Digits of precision of a type double. (LEGACY) Minimum Acceptable Value: 10
- DBL_MAX
- Maximum value of a type double. (LEGACY) Minimum Acceptable Value: 1E +37
- FLT_DIG
- Digits of precision of a type float. (LEGACY) Minimum Acceptable Value: 6
- FLT_MAX
- Maximum value of a float. (LEGACY) Minimum Acceptable Value: 1E+37
- INT_MAX
- Maximum value of an int. Minimum Acceptable Value: 2 147 483 647
- LONG_BIT
- Number of bits in a long int. Minimum Acceptable Value: 32
- LONG_MAX
- Maximum value of a long int. Minimum Acceptable Value: +2 147 483 647
- MB_LEN_MAX
- Maximum number of bytes in a character, for any supported locale. Minimum Acceptable Value: 1
- SCHAR_MAX
- Maximum value of a type signed char. Minimum Acceptable Value: +127
- SHRT_MAX
- Maximum value of a type short. Minimum Acceptable Value: +32 767
- SSIZE_MAX
- Maximum value of an object of type ssize_t. Minimum Acceptable Value: _POSIX_SSIZE_MAX
- UCHAR_MAX
- Maximum value of a type unsigned char. Minimum Acceptable Value: 255
- UINT_MAX
- Maximum value of a type unsigned int. Minimum Acceptable Value: 4 294 967 295
- ULONG_MAX
- Maximum value of a type unsigned long int. Minimum Acceptable Value: 4 294 967 295
- USHRT_MAX
- Maximum value for a type unsigned short int. Minimum Acceptable Value: 65 535
- WORD_BIT
- Number of bits in a word or type int. Minimum Acceptable Value: 16
- CHAR_MIN
- Minimum value of a type char. Maximum Acceptable Value: SCHAR_MIN or 0
- INT_MIN
- Minimum value of a type int. Maximum Acceptable Value: -2 147 483 647
- LONG_MIN
- Minimum value of a type long int. Maximum Acceptable Value: -2 147 483 647
- SCHAR_MIN
- Minimum value of a type signed char. Maximum Acceptable Value: -127
- SHRT_MIN
- Minimum value of a type short. Maximum Acceptable Value: -32 767
Other Invariant Values
The following constants are defined on all systems in <limits.h>.
- CHARCLASS_NAME_MAX
- Maximum number of bytes in a character class name. Minimum Acceptable Value: 14
- NL_ARGMAX
- Maximum value of digit in calls to the printf() and scanf() functions. Minimum Acceptable Value: 9
- NL_LANGMAX
- Maximum number of bytes in a LANG name. Minimum Acceptable Value: 14
- NL_MSGMAX
- Maximum message number. Minimum Acceptable Value: 32 767
- NL_NMAX
- Maximum number of bytes in an N-to-1 collation mapping. Minimum Acceptable Value: *
- NL_SETMAX
- Maximum set number. Minimum Acceptable Value: 255
- NL_TEXTMAX
- Maximum number of bytes in a message string. Minimum Acceptable Value: _POSIX2_LINE_MAX
- NZERO
- Default process priority. Minimum Acceptable Value: 20
- TMP_MAX
- Minimum number of unique pathnames generated by tmpnam(). Maximum number of times an application can call tmpnam() reliably. (LEGACY) Minimum Acceptable Value: 10 000
None.
None.
fpathconf(), pathconf(), sysconf().