gnu_get_libc_version(3)

✨ gnu_get_libc_version(3) ✨

okay bestie, you're in section 3 of the manual — that's the Library Functions Manual zone — and today we're getting to know gnu_get_libc_version and gnu_get_libc_release. yes, they're giving "who even are you" but honestly they're so useful. let's go 💅

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🌸 NAME 🌸

gnu_get_libc_version, gnu_get_libc_release — get glibc version and release

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📚 LIBRARY 📚

Standard C library (libc, -lc)

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🦋 SYNOPSIS 🦋

#include <gnu/libc-version.h>

const char *gnu_get_libc_version(void);
const char *gnu_get_libc_release(void);

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💖 DESCRIPTION 💖

so here's the tea, bestie. gnu_get_libc_version() hands you back a string that identifies the glibc version available on the system. that's it. that's the whole vibe. a little string, a lot of power ✨

and then gnu_get_libc_release() returns a string indicating the release status of the glibc version available on the system. like, it'll be a string such as stable. iconic behavior honestly 🌈

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🎀 ATTRIBUTES 🎀

if you're confused about any of the words used in this section (fair, it's a whole thing), go peek at attributes(7). here's the rundown for our two little stars:

• Interface: gnu_get_libc_version(), gnu_get_libc_release()
  • Attribute: Thread safety
  • Value: MT-Safe

translation? both of them are MT-Safe, so go ahead and call them from multiple threads, no cap 👑

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⭐ STANDARDS ⭐

GNU.

yep, that's the whole standard. it's GNU's thing, it lives in GNU land 🫶

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🧚 HISTORY 🧚

glibc 2.1. ancient in a cute way, like a vintage handbag but for your libc.

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🔥 EXAMPLES 🔥

when you run the program below, it'll produce output such as the following:

$ ./a.out
GNU libc version: 2.8
GNU libc release: stable

(no, your version probably isn't 2.8, this is just the example being cute about it 💀)

💜 Program source 💜

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

#include <gnu/libc-version.h>

int
main(void)
{
    printf("GNU libc version: %s\n", gnu_get_libc_version());
    printf("GNU libc release: %s\n", gnu_get_libc_release());
    exit(EXIT_SUCCESS);
}

look at her. tiny main, two printfs, exit(EXIT_SUCCESS) at the end because we're polite. slay 🌸

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👀 SEE ALSO 👀

• confstr(3)

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lowkey the whole page is short but that's because these functions are simple and that's their whole charm, bestie. two functions, two strings, zero drama. periodt 💖

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and that's a wrap!! this lil page came from Linux man-pages 6.20, dated 2025-09-06, filed under gnu_get_libc_version(3) — go forth and check your glibc version like the main character you are 🎀💅✨