PAM_STRERROR(3)

🌸 PAM_STRERROR(3) 🌸

ok so real talk, this is a page from the Linux-PAM Manual and it's genuinely one of the softest, friendliest little functions in the whole library. no cap. let's get into it 💅

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✨ NAME ✨

pam_strerror — bestie, this is the one that hands you a string describing a PAM error code. it's giving "translator for your feelings" energy 🫶

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✨ SYNOPSIS ✨

#include <security/pam_appl.h>

const char *pam_strerror(pam_handle_t *pamh, int errnum);

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✨ DESCRIPTION ✨

okay so pam_strerror is the function that takes the error code you handed it in the argument errnum and gives you back a pointer to a string that describes that error. iconic behaviour honestly.

and it's not even monolingual — it may use the LC_MESSAGES part of the current locale to pick the right language for you. multilingual queen 🌈

⚠️ major heads up bestie: this string must not be modified by the application. like, do not touch. and lowkey the nicest part — no library function will modify this string either. it's safe, it's stable, it's main character energy 🔥

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✨ RETURN VALUES ✨

this function always returns a pointer to a string. always. every single time. no NULL jumpscare, no surprises, just vibes ✨🎀

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✨ SEE ALSO ✨

• pam(8)

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and that's the whole page bestie, you ate it up 💖

ok so this icon was brought to you by Linux-PAM and it's dated 07/08/2026 — go forth and error-message responsibly, mwah 🎀🦋💜