# fopen, fopen_s

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< c‎ | io

Defined in header `<stdio.h>` |  |
| (1) |
FILE *fopen( const char *filename, const char *mode ); |  | (until C99)
FILE *fopen( const char *restrict filename, const char *restrict mode ); |  | (since C99)
errno_t fopen_s( FILE *restrict *restrict streamptr, const char *restrict filename, const char *restrict mode); | (2) | (since C11)

1) Opens a file indicated by `filename` and returns a pointer to the file stream associated with that file. `mode` is used to determine the file access mode.
2) Same as (1), except that the pointer to the file stream is written to `streamptr` and the following errors are detected at runtime and call the currently installed constraint handler function:

  - `streamptr` is a null pointer
  - `filename` is a null pointer
  - `mode` is a null pointer
  As with all bounds-checked functions, `fopen_s` is only guaranteed to be available if __STDC_LIB_EXT1__ is defined by the implementation and if the user defines __STDC_WANT_LIB_EXT1__ to the integer constant 1 before including `stdio.h`.

### Parameters

filename | - | file name to associate the file stream to

mode

-

null-terminated character string determining file access mode

File access mode string | Meaning | Explanation | Action if file already exists | Action if file does not exist
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
`"r"` | read | Open a file for reading | read from start | failure to open
`"w"` | write | Create a file for writing | destroy contents | create new
`"a"` | append | Append to a file | write to end | create new
`"r+"` | read extended | Open a file for read/write | read from start | error
`"w+"` | write extended | Create a file for read/write | destroy contents | create new
`"a+"` | append extended | Open a file for read/write | write to end | create new
File access mode flag `"b"` can optionally be specified to open a file in binary mode. This flag has no effect on POSIX systems, but on Windows it disables special handling of '\n' and '\x1A'. On the append file access modes, data is written to the end of the file regardless of the current position of the file position indicator.
The behavior is undefined if the mode is not one of the strings listed above. Some implementations define additional supported modes (e.g. Windows).

In update mode ('+'), both input and output may be performed, but output cannot be followed by input without an intervening call to fflush, fseek, fsetpos or rewind, and input cannot be followed by output without an intervening call to fseek, fsetpos or rewind, unless the input operation encountered end of file. In update mode, implementations are permitted to use binary mode even when text mode is specified.

File access mode flag `"x"` can optionally be appended to "w" or "w+" specifiers. This flag forces the function to fail if the file exists, instead of overwriting it. (C11)
When using `fopen_s` or `freopen_s`, file access permissions for any file created with "w" or "a" prevents other users from accessing it. File access mode flag `"u"` can optionally be prepended to any specifier that begins with "w" or "a", to enable the default `fopen` permissions. (C11)

streamptr | - | pointer to a pointer where the function stores the result (an out-parameter)

### Return value

1) If successful, returns a pointer to the new file stream. The stream is fully buffered unless `filename` refers to an interactive device. On error, returns a null pointer. POSIX requires that errno be set in this case.
2) If successful, returns zero and a pointer to the new file stream is written to `*streamptr`. On error, returns a non-zero error code and writes the null pointer to `*streamptr` (unless `streamptr` is a null pointer itself).

### Notes

The format of `filename` is implementation-defined, and does not necessarily refer to a file (e.g. it may be the console or another device accessible though filesystem API). On platforms that support them, `filename` may include absolute or relative filesystem path.

### Example

Run this code

    #include <stdio.h>
    #include <stdlib.h>

    int main(void)
    {
        FILE* fp = fopen("test.txt", "r");
        if(!fp) {
            perror("File opening failed");
            return EXIT_FAILURE;
        }

        int c; // note: int, not char, required to handle EOF
        while ((c = fgetc(fp)) != EOF) { // standard C I/O file reading loop
           putchar(c);
        }

        if (ferror(fp))
            puts("I/O error when reading");
        else if (feof(fp))
            puts("End of file reached successfully");

        fclose(fp);
    }

### References

- C11 standard (ISO/IEC 9899:2011):

  - 7.21.5.3 The fopen function (p: 305-306)

  - K.3.5.2.1 The fopen_s function (p: 588-590)

- C99 standard (ISO/IEC 9899:1999):

  - 7.19.5.3 The fopen function (p: 271-272)

- C89/C90 standard (ISO/IEC 9899:1990):

  - 4.9.5.3 The fopen function

### See also

fclose | closes a file (function)
fflush | synchronizes an output stream with the actual file (function)
freopenfreopen_s (C11) | open an existing stream with a different name (function)

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