PAM_ERROR(3)

💖 PAM_ERROR(3) — the pam_error / pam_verror glow-up 💖

okay bestie so this page lives in the Linux-PAM Manual and it's about the two functions that literally just yell at the user (politely, through the conversation function) when something goes wrong. yes, that's the whole vibe. let's get into it ✨

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🌸 NAME 🌸

pam_error, pam_verror — display error messages to the user 📢

🦋 SYNOPSIS 🦋

#include <security/pam_ext.h>

int pam_error(pam_handle_t *pamh, const char *fmt, ...);

int pam_verror(pam_handle_t *pamh, const char *fmt, va_list args);

💅 DESCRIPTION 💅

okay so pam_error is the main character here 👑 — it prints error messages through the conversation function to the user. that's it, that's the job. it takes the message out to the user, no cap.

and pam_verror does the exact same task as pam_error(), the only difference being that it takes a set of arguments which have been obtained using the stdarg(3) variable argument list macros. so it's the same energy, just the va_list version — iykyk 🫶

🔥 RETURN VALUES 🔥

• PAM_BUF_ERR — memory buffer error 😭 the buffer said "not today"
• PAM_CONV_ERR — conversation failure 💀 the convo did not slay, unfortunately
• PAM_SUCCESS — error message was displayed ✅ iconic, it worked
• PAM_SYSTEM_ERR — system error 🚨 the system is having a moment

🎀 SEE ALSO 🎀

pam_info(3), pam_vinfo(3), pam_prompt(3), pam_vprompt(3), pam(8) — the whole friend group, go say hi 🌈

⭐ STANDARDS ⭐

so important to note: the pam_error and pam_verror functions are Linux-PAM extensions. they're not some ancient portability lore, they're a Linux-PAM thing, periodt 💜

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🍓 reminder bestie: pam_verror is literally just pam_error with the stdarg(3) va_list energy — same function, different argument delivery. don't overthink it 💅

and that's the whole page, you ate that 🧚✨

this masterpiece dropped in the Linux-PAM Manual, dated 07/08/2026, and it's signed off on the very last line as Linux-PAM × PAM_ERROR(3) 💖 go forth and display your errors, queen 👑