change_xattr(9)

💅 change_xattr(9) — like, the UBIFS xattr glow-up page

okay bestie, so this one's from the Kernel API Manual (yes, the kernel has a manual, and yes it's iconic) and it's literally about changing an extended attribute. that's the whole vibe. let's get into it 🎀

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✨ NAME ✨

change_xattr — change an extended attribute. that's it, that's the function. no cap. 💖

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🦋 SYNOPSIS 🦋

int change_xattr (struct ubifs_info *c , struct inode *host , struct
inode *inode , const void *value , int size );

like, copy it exactly, she's sensitive about formatting 🙈

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🌸 ARGUMENTS 🌸

so there are five (5) besties you gotta hand over, and each one matters, so pay attention:

• c — the UBIFS file-system description object. your whole filesystem's little ID card, basically. main character energy. 👑
• host — the host inode. the one holding the xattr.
• inode — the extended attribute inode. yes, xattrs get their own inode here, slay. ✨
• value — the extended attribute value. the actual data, the substance, the lore. 💜
• size — size of the extended attribute value. how many bytes of that value you're bringing. 🍓

ngl, mixing up host and inode here is so easy, so like... double-check before you commit. 😭

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🔥 DESCRIPTION 🔥

so this helper function changes the value of an extended attribute inode, replacing it with new data from value. that's the whole job. she changes, she doesn't create, she doesn't delete — she transforms. 💅

and the returns? listen up:

• returns zero in case of success — so zero means you ATE, periodt ✅
• returns a negative error code in case of failure — that's the 💀 outcome, handle it

fr fr, always check that return value. negative error codes are not a vibe to ignore.

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🌈 SEE ALSO 🌈

• Kernel file ./fs/ubifs/xattr.c — go read the source, iykyk 🧚
• create_xattr(9) — the sibling function, the origin story, the prequel 🫶

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that's the whole page bestie, you're so ready now ⭐

💖 ✨ 🎀 and a cute little sign-off: this one lives under ./fs/ubifs, dated October 2026 — so uh, future us already wrote it, obsessed 💜 🦋 🌸