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# Global C Functions

The next four sections document the straight C interface to attributes, indices, queries, and file system information. Technically, these functions are part of the Kernel Kit—their definitions live in header files in be/kernel, and their code is in libroot.so.

These functions use a global error variable (an integer), called `errno`, to register errors. You can look at the `errno` value directly in your code after a file system function fails. Alternatively, you can use the `errno()` function which prints, to standard error, its argument followed by a system-generated string that describes the current state of `errno`.

- Each thread maintains its own `errno` variable.

- `errno` is only set if there's an error—it never indicates success.

- `errno` is never cleared. If call A fails and then you call B, C, and D, `errno` will still record the error from A.

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