va_list(3type)

💖 va_list(3type) — the variable argument list, bestie 💖

okay so you know how some functions are like "idk how many args you're gonna give me, surprise me"? yeah. that's what va_list is for. it's the variable argument list type from the 3type section of the manual, and she is that girl. 🎀

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📚 LIBRARY

Standard C library (libc) 🫶

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✨ SYNOPSIS ✨

#include <stdarg.h>

typedef /* ... */  va_list;

look at her. mysterious. the /* ... */ is doing main character energy because the actual definition is implementation-defined. iconic. 💅

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🌸 DESCRIPTION 🌸

So here's the vibe: va_list is used by functions that take a varying number of arguments of varying types. Like, a function that's just like "bring whoever, bring whatever." 🦋

The function must declare an object of type va_list, and that object is what the macros va_start(3), va_arg(3), va_copy(3), and va_end(3) use to traverse the list of arguments. Think of it like the lil itinerary for walking through all the args you got handed. 🎀

no cap: if you skip declaring that va_list object, the whole thing falls apart. it's giving necessary. 😭

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⭐ STANDARDS ⭐

• C11
• POSIX.1-2024

she's certified. she's standardized. periodt. 👑

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🌈 HISTORY 🌈

• C89
• SUSv1
• POSIX.1-2001

she's been here since forever, lowkey an elder icon at this point. 💜

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📝 NOTES 📝

heads up bestie — these headers also provide va_list, so you're not stuck with just <stdarg.h>:

• <stdio.h>
• <wchar.h>

fr fr, she gets around. 🧚

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👀 SEE ALSO 👀

• va_start(3)
• va_arg(3)
• va_copy(3)
• va_end(3)

the whole squad. go read them, iykyk. 🍓

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and that's the page, bestie!! this was Linux man-pages 6.20, dated 2026-02-08 — mwah, slay, go write some variadic functions responsibly 💖✨🎀🦋💅