getentropy — fill a buffer with random bytes
#include <unistd.h>
int getentropy(void *buffer, size_t length);
The getentropy() function shall write length bytes of data starting at the location pointed to by buffer. The output shall be unpredictable high quality random data, generated by a cryptographically secure pseudo-random number generator. The maximum permitted value for the length argument is given by the {GETENTROPY_MAX} symbolic constant defined in <limits.h>.
A successful call to getentropy() shall always provide the requested number of bytes of entropy.
Upon successful completion, getentropy() shall return 0; otherwise, -1 shall be returned and errno set to indicate the error.
The getentropy() function shall fail if:
- [EINVAL]
- The value of length is greater than {GETENTROPY_MAX}.
The getentropy() function may fail if:
- [ENOSYS]
- The system does not provide the necessary source of entropy.
None.
The intended use of this function is to create a seed for other pseudo-random number generators.
The getentropy() function is not a cancellation point. (See 2.9.5.2 Cancellation Points .)
None.
XBD <limits.h> , <unistd.h>
First released in Issue 8.
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