NAME

close − close a file

SYNOPSIS

close(fildes)
int fildes;

DESCRIPTION

Given a file descriptor such as returned from an open, creat, dup or pipe(2) call, close closes the associated file.  A close of all files is automatic on exit, but since there is a 20 open file limit on the number of open files per process, close is necessary for programs which deal with many files. 

Files are closed upon termination of a process, and certain high-numbered file descriptors are closed by exec(2), and it is possible to arrange for others to be closed (see FIOCLEX in ioctl(2)).

SEE ALSO

creat(2), open(2), pipe(2), exec(2), ioctl(2)

DIAGNOSTICS

Zero is returned if a file is closed; −1 is returned for an unknown file descriptor. 

7th Edition