signal.h — signals
#include <signal.h>
[CX]Some of the functionality described on this reference page extends the ISO C standard. Applications shall define the appropriate feature test macro (see XSH 2.2 The Compilation Environment ) to enable the visibility of these symbols in this header.
The <signal.h> header shall define the following macros, which shall expand to constant expressions with distinct values that have a type compatible with the second argument to, and the return value of, the signal() function, and whose values shall compare unequal to the address of any declarable function.
- SIG_DFL
- Request for default signal handling.
- SIG_ERR
- Return value from signal() in case of error.
- SIG_IGN
- Request that signal be ignored.
[CX]
The <signal.h> header shall define the pthread_t, size_t, and uid_t types as described in <sys/types.h>.
The <signal.h> header shall define the timespec structure as described in <time.h>.
The <signal.h> header shall define the following data types:
- sig_atomic_t
- Possibly volatile-qualified integer type of an object that can be accessed as an atomic entity, even in the presence of asynchronous interrupts.
- sigset_t
- [CX]
Integer or structure type of an object used to represent sets of signals.
- pid_t
- [CX]
As described in <sys/types.h>.
[CX]
The <signal.h> header shall define the pthread_attr_t type as described in <sys/types.h>.
The <signal.h> header shall define the sigevent structure, which shall include at least the following members:
int sigev_notify Notification type. int sigev_signo Signal number. union sigval sigev_value Signal value. void (*sigev_notify_function)(union sigval) Notification function. pthread_attr_t *sigev_notify_attributes Notification attributes.The <signal.h> header shall define the following symbolic constants for the values of sigev_notify:
- SIGEV_NONE
- No asynchronous notification is delivered when the event of interest occurs.
- SIGEV_SIGNAL
- A queued signal, with an application-defined value, is generated when the event of interest occurs.
- SIGEV_THREAD
- A notification function is called to perform notification.
The sigval union shall be defined as:
int sival_int Integer signal value. void *sival_ptr Pointer signal value.The <signal.h> header shall declare the SIGRTMIN and SIGRTMAX macros, which shall expand to positive integer expressions with type int, but which need not be constant expressions. These macros specify a range of signal numbers that are reserved for application use and for which the realtime signal behavior specified in this volume of POSIX.1-2024 is supported. The signal numbers in this range do not overlap any of the signals specified in the following table.
The range SIGRTMIN through SIGRTMAX inclusive shall include at least {RTSIG_MAX} signal numbers. The value of SIGRTMAX shall be less than the value returned by sysconf(_SC_NSIG).
It is implementation-defined whether realtime signal behavior is supported for other signals.
The <signal.h> header shall define the following symbolic constant. The value shall be suitable for use in #if preprocessing directives:
- SIG2STR_MAX
- Maximum size of a signal name returned by sig2str(), including the terminating null byte.
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The <signal.h> header shall define the following macros that are used to refer to the signals that occur in the system. Signals defined here begin with the letters SIG followed by an uppercase letter. The macros shall expand to positive integer constant expressions with type int and distinct values [CX]
less than the value of {NSIG_MAX} defined in <limits.h>.
The value 0 is reserved for use as the null signal (see kill()). Additional implementation-defined signals may occur in the system.
The ISO C standard only requires the signal names SIGABRT, SIGFPE, SIGILL, SIGINT, SIGSEGV, and SIGTERM to be defined. An implementation need not generate any of these six signals, except as a result of explicit use of interfaces that generate signals, such as raise(), [CX]
kill(), the General Terminal Interface (see 11.1.9 Special Characters ), and the kill utility, unless otherwise stated (see, for example, XSH 2.8.3.3 Memory Protection ).
The following signals shall be supported on all implementations (default actions are explained below the table):
Signal
Default Action
Description
SIGABRT
A
Process abort signal.
SIGALRM
T
Alarm clock.
SIGBUS
A
Access to an undefined portion of a memory object.
SIGCHLD
I
Child process terminated, stopped,
[XSI]
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or continued.
SIGCONT
C
Continue executing, if stopped.
SIGFPE
A
Erroneous arithmetic operation.
SIGHUP
T
Hangup.
SIGILL
A
Illegal instruction.
SIGINT
T
Terminal interrupt signal.
SIGKILL
T
Kill (cannot be caught or ignored).
SIGPIPE
T
Write on a pipe with no one to read it.
SIGQUIT
A
Terminal quit signal.
SIGSEGV
A
Invalid memory reference.
SIGSTOP
S
Stop executing (cannot be caught or ignored).
SIGTERM
T
Termination signal.
SIGTSTP
S
Terminal stop signal.
SIGTTIN
S
Background process attempting read.
SIGTTOU
S
Background process attempting write.
SIGUSR1
T
User-defined signal 1.
SIGUSR2
T
User-defined signal 2.
SIGWINCH
I
Terminal window size changed.
[XSI]
SIGSYS
A
Bad system call.
SIGTRAP
A
Trace/breakpoint trap.
SIGURG
I
High bandwidth data is available at a socket.
[XSI]
SIGVTALRM
T
Virtual timer expired.
SIGXCPU
A
CPU time limit exceeded.
SIGXFSZ
A
File size limit exceeded.
The default actions are as follows:
- T
- Abnormal termination of the process.
- A
- Abnormal termination of the process with additional actions.
- I
- Ignore the signal.
- S
- Stop the process.
- C
- Continue the process, if it is stopped; otherwise, ignore the signal.
The effects on the process in each case are described in XSH 2.4.3 Signal Actions .
[CX]
The <signal.h> header shall declare the sigaction structure, which shall include at least the following members:
void (*sa_handler)(int) Pointer to a signal-catching function or one of the SIG_IGN or SIG_DFL. sigset_t sa_mask Set of signals to be blocked during execution of the signal handling function. int sa_flags Special flags. void (*sa_sigaction)(int, siginfo_t *, void *) Pointer to a signal-catching function.![]()
[CX]
The storage occupied by sa_handler and sa_sigaction may overlap, and a conforming application shall not use both simultaneously.
The <signal.h> header shall define the following macros which shall expand to integer constant expressions that need not be usable in #if preprocessing directives:
- SIG_BLOCK
- [CX]
The resulting set is the union of the current set and the signal set pointed to by the argument set.
- SIG_UNBLOCK
- [CX]
The resulting set is the intersection of the current set and the complement of the signal set pointed to by the argument set.
- SIG_SETMASK
- [CX]
The resulting set is the signal set pointed to by the argument set.
The <signal.h> header shall also define the following symbolic constants:
- SA_NOCLDSTOP
- [CX]
Do not generate SIGCHLD when children stop
[XSI]or stopped children continue.
- SA_ONSTACK
- [XSI]
Causes signal delivery to occur on an alternate stack.
- SA_RESETHAND
- [CX]
Causes signal dispositions to be set to SIG_DFL on entry to signal handlers.
- SA_RESTART
- [CX]
Causes certain functions to become restartable.
- SA_SIGINFO
- [CX]
Causes extra information to be passed to signal handlers at the time of receipt of a signal.
- SA_NOCLDWAIT
- [XSI]
Causes implementations not to create zombie processes or status information on child termination. See sigaction .
- SA_NODEFER
- [CX]
Causes signal not to be automatically blocked on entry to signal handler.
- SS_ONSTACK
- [XSI]
Process is executing on an alternate signal stack.
- SS_DISABLE
- [XSI]
Alternate signal stack is disabled.
- MINSIGSTKSZ
- [XSI]
Minimum stack size for a signal handler.
- SIGSTKSZ
- [XSI]
Default size in bytes for the alternate signal stack.
[CX]
The <signal.h> header shall define the mcontext_t type through typedef.
[CX]
The <signal.h> header shall define the ucontext_t type as a structure that shall include at least the following members:
ucontext_t *uc_link Pointer to the context that is resumed when this context returns. sigset_t uc_sigmask The set of signals that are blocked when this context is active. stack_t uc_stack The stack used by this context. mcontext_t uc_mcontext A machine-specific representation of the saved context.The <signal.h> header shall define the stack_t type as a structure, which shall include at least the following members:
void *ss_sp Stack base or pointer. size_t ss_size Stack size. int ss_flags Flags.![]()
[CX]
The <signal.h> header shall define the siginfo_t type as a structure, which shall include at least the following members:
[CX]int si_signo Signal number. int si_code Signal code.
[XSI]
int si_errno If non-zero, an errno value associated with this signal, as described in <errno.h>.
[CX]
pid_t si_pid Sending process ID. uid_t si_uid Real user ID of sending process. void *si_addr Address that caused fault. int si_status Exit value or signal. union sigval si_value Signal value.
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[CX]
The <signal.h> header shall define the symbolic constants in the Code column of the following table for use as values of si_code that are signal-specific or non-signal-specific reasons why the signal was generated.
Signal
Code
Reason
[CX]
SIGILL
ILL_ILLOPC
Illegal opcode.
ILL_ILLOPN
Illegal operand.
ILL_ILLADR
Illegal addressing mode.
ILL_ILLTRP
Illegal trap.
ILL_PRVOPC
Privileged opcode.
ILL_PRVREG
Privileged register.
ILL_COPROC
Coprocessor error.
ILL_BADSTK
Internal stack error.
SIGFPE
FPE_INTDIV
Integer divide by zero.
FPE_INTOVF
Integer overflow.
FPE_FLTDIV
Floating-point divide by zero.
FPE_FLTOVF
Floating-point overflow.
FPE_FLTUND
Floating-point underflow.
FPE_FLTRES
Floating-point inexact result.
FPE_FLTINV
Invalid floating-point operation.
FPE_FLTSUB
Subscript out of range.
SIGSEGV
SEGV_MAPERR
Address not mapped to object.
SEGV_ACCERR
Invalid permissions for mapped object.
SIGBUS
BUS_ADRALN
Invalid address alignment.
BUS_ADRERR
Nonexistent physical address.
BUS_OBJERR
Object-specific hardware error.
[XSI]
SIGTRAP
TRAP_BRKPT
Process breakpoint.
TRAP_TRACE
Process trace trap.
[CX]
SIGCHLD
CLD_EXITED
Child has exited.
CLD_KILLED
Child has terminated abnormally with no additional actions.
CLD_DUMPED
Child has terminated abnormally and additional actions may have been taken.
CLD_TRAPPED
Traced child has trapped.
CLD_STOPPED
Child has stopped.
CLD_CONTINUED
Stopped child has continued.
Any
SI_USER
Signal sent by kill().
SI_QUEUE
Signal sent by sigqueue().
SI_TIMER
Signal generated by expiration of a timer set by timer_settime().
SI_ASYNCIO
Signal generated by completion of an asynchronous I/O
request.
SI_MESGQ
Signal generated by arrival of a message on an empty message
queue.
[CX]
Implementations may support additional si_code values not included in this list, may generate values included in this list under circumstances other than those described in this list, and may contain extensions or limitations that prevent some values from being generated. Implementations do not generate a different value from the ones described in this list for circumstances described in this list.
[CX]
In addition, the following signal-specific information shall be available:
Signal
Member
Value
SIGILL
void * si_addr
Address of faulting instruction.
SIGFPE
SIGSEGV
void * si_addr
Address of faulting memory reference.
SIGBUS
SIGCHLD
pid_t si_pid
Child process ID.
int si_status
If si_code is equal to CLD_EXITED, then si_status holds the exit value of the process; otherwise, it is equal to the signal that caused the process to change state. The exit value in si_status shall be equal to the full exit value (that is, the value passed to _exit(), _Exit(), or exit(), or returned from main()); it shall not be limited to the least significant eight bits of the value.
uid_t si_uid
Real user ID of the process that sent the signal.
For some implementations, the value of si_addr may be inaccurate.
The following shall be declared as functions and may also be defined as macros. Function prototypes shall be provided.
[CX]int kill(pid_t, int);
[XSI]
int killpg(pid_t, int);
[CX]
void psiginfo(const siginfo_t *, const char *); void psignal(int, const char *); int pthread_kill(pthread_t, int); int pthread_sigmask(int, const sigset_t *restrict, sigset_t *restrict);
int raise(int); [CX]
int sig2str(int, char *); int sigaction(int, const struct sigaction *restrict, struct sigaction *restrict); int sigaddset(sigset_t *, int);
[XSI]
int sigaltstack(const stack_t *restrict, stack_t *restrict);
[CX]
int sigdelset(sigset_t *, int); int sigemptyset(sigset_t *); int sigfillset(sigset_t *); int sigismember(const sigset_t *, int);
void (*signal(int, void (*)(int)))(int); [CX]
int sigpending(sigset_t *); int sigprocmask(int, const sigset_t *restrict, sigset_t *restrict); int sigqueue(pid_t, int, union sigval); int sigsuspend(const sigset_t *); int sigtimedwait(const sigset_t *restrict, siginfo_t *restrict, const struct timespec *restrict); int sigwait(const sigset_t *restrict, int *restrict); int sigwaitinfo(const sigset_t *restrict, siginfo_t *restrict); int str2sig(const char *restrict, int *restrict);
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[CX]
Inclusion of the <signal.h> header may make visible all symbols from the <time.h> header.
On systems not supporting the XSI option, the si_pid and si_uid members of siginfo_t are only required to be valid when si_code is SI_USER or SI_QUEUE. On XSI-conforming systems, they are also valid for all si_code values less than or equal to 0; however, it is unspecified whether SI_USER and SI_QUEUE have values less than or equal to zero, and therefore XSI applications should check whether si_code has the value SI_USER or SI_QUEUE or is less than or equal to 0 to tell whether si_pid and si_uid are valid.
None.
None.
<errno.h> , <limits.h> , <sys/types.h> , <time.h>
XSH 2.2 The Compilation Environment , alarm , kill , killpg , psiginfo , pthread_kill , pthread_sigmask , raise , sig2str , sigaction , sigaddset , sigaltstack , sigdelset , sigemptyset , sigfillset , sigismember , signal , sigpending , sigqueue , sigsuspend , sigtimedwait , sigwait , timer_create , wait , waitid
XCU kill
First released in Issue 1.
The DESCRIPTION is updated for alignment with the POSIX Realtime Extension and the POSIX Threads Extension.
The default action for SIGURG is changed from i to iii. The function prototype for sigmask() is removed.
The Open Group Corrigendum U035/2 is applied. In the DESCRIPTION, the wording for abnormal termination is clarified.
The Open Group Corrigendum U028/8 is applied, correcting the prototype for the sigset() function.
The Open Group Corrigendum U026/3 is applied, correcting the type of the sigev_notify_function function member of the sigevent structure.
The following new requirements on POSIX implementations derive from alignment with the Single UNIX Specification:
- The SIGCHLD, SIGCONT, SIGSTOP, SIGTSTP, SIGTTIN, and SIGTTOU signals are now mandated. This is also a FIPS requirement.
- The pid_t definition is mandated.
The RT markings are changed to RTS to denote that the semantics are part of the Realtime Signals Extension option.
The restrict keyword is added to the prototypes for sigaction(), sigaltstack(), sigprocmask(), sigtimedwait(), sigwait(), and sigwaitinfo().
IEEE PASC Interpretation 1003.1 #85 is applied, adding the statement that symbols from <time.h> may be made visible when <signal.h> is included.
Extensions beyond the ISO C standard are marked.
IEEE Std 1003.1-2001/Cor 1-2002, item XBD/TC1/D6/14 is applied, changing the descriptive text for members of the sigaction structure.
IEEE Std 1003.1-2001/Cor 1-2002, item XBD/TC1/D6/15 is applied, correcting the definition of the sa_sigaction member of the sigaction structure.
IEEE Std 1003.1-2001/Cor 2-2004, item XBD/TC2/D6/24 is applied, reworking the ordering of the siginfo_t type structure in the DESCRIPTION. This is an editorial change and no normative change is intended.
SD5-XBD-ERN-5 is applied.
SD5-XBD-ERN-39 is applied, removing the sigstack structure which should have been removed at the same time as the LEGACY sigstack() function.
SD5-XBD-ERN-56 is applied, adding a reference to <sys/types.h> for the size_t type.
Austin Group Interpretation 1003.1-2001 #034 is applied.
The ucontext_t and mcontext_t structures are added here from the obsolescent <ucontext.h> header.
The psiginfo() and psignal() functions are added from The Open Group Technical Standard, 2006, Extended API Set Part 1.
The SIGPOLL and SIGPROF signals and text relating to the XSI STREAMS option are marked obsolescent.
The SA_RESETHAND, SA_RESTART, SA_SIGINFO, SA_NOCLDWAIT, and SA_NODEFER constants are moved from the XSI option to the Base.
Functionality relating to the Realtime Signals Extension option is moved to the Base.
This reference page is clarified with respect to macros and symbolic constants, and declarations for the pthread_attr_t, pthread_t, and uid_t types and the timespec structure are added.
SIGRTMIN and SIGRTMAX are required to be positive integer expressions.
The APPLICATION USAGE section is updated to describe the si_pid and si_uid members of siginfo_t.
POSIX.1-2008, Technical Corrigendum 1, XBD/TC1-2008/0062 [208], XBD/TC1-2008/0063 [80], and XBD/TC1-2008/0064 [157] are applied.
POSIX.1-2008, Technical Corrigendum 2, XBD/TC2-2008/0070 [536], XBD/TC2-2008/0071 [690], XBD/TC2-2008/0072 [594], XBD/TC2-2008/0073 [844], and XBD/TC2-2008/0074 [536] are applied.
Austin Group Defect 741 is applied, restricting the value of SIGRTMAX to less than the value returned by sysconf(_SC_NSIG) and the value of macros that are used to refer to the signals to less than {NSIG_MAX}.
Austin Group Defect 1138 is applied, adding sig2str() and str2sig().
Austin Group Defect 1141 is applied, changing the descriptions of CLD_KILLED and CLD_DUMPED.
Austin Group Defect 1151 is applied, adding SIGWINCH.
Austin Group Defect 1215 is applied, removing XSI shading from text relating to abnormal process termination with additional actions.
Austin Group Defect 1330 is applied, removing obsolescent interfaces.
Austin Group Defect 1775 is applied, changing the description of the si_addr member of siginfo_t.
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