drm_poll(9)

💅 drm_poll(9) — Kernel API Manual, but make it group chat 💅

Okay so bestie, welcome to drm_poll(9) from the Kernel API Manual. It’s giving very specific kernel-core energy, and I’m obsessed. Let’s get into it, fr fr.

📛 NAME 📛

drm_poll — poll method for DRM file.

That’s the whole name section. Short, sweet, no cap.

🪄 SYNOPSIS 🪄

__poll_t drm_poll (struct file *filp , struct poll_table_struct *wait );

Copy it exactly, bestie — spaces and all. The return type is __poll_t, the function is drm_poll, and yes, the punctuation is serving exactly as written. Periodt.

🧸 ARGUMENTS 🧸

• filp — file pointer. Lowkey iconic.
• wait — poll waiter table. Very demure, very mindful.

🌸 DESCRIPTION 🌸

Okay so here’s the important part, and I need you to listen: this function must be used by drivers as their file_operations.read method if they use DRM events for asynchronous signalling to userspace. Yes, the page literally says file_operations.read — I’m not editing the lore, I’m just reporting it. 🫶

Since events are used by the KMS API for vblank and page flip completion, this means all modern display drivers must use it. Highkey that’s a lot of responsibility, but she ate. 💅

See also drm_read.

🔁 RETURN 🔁

Returns a mask of POLL flags indicating the current status of the file.

That’s the whole return vibe check — mask, POLL flags, current status, file. Slay.

👀 SEE ALSO 👀

Kernel file ./drivers/gpu/drm/drm_file.c, plus these icons:

• file operations(9)
• drm_file_alloc(9)
• drm_file_free(9)
• drm_open(9)
• drm_release(9)
• drm_release_noglobal(9)
• drm_read(9)
• drm_event_reserve_init_locked(9)
• drm_event_reserve_init(9)
• drm_event_cancel_free(9)
• drm_send_event_timestamp_locked(9)
• drm_send_event_locked(9)
• drm_send_event(9)
• drm_print_memory_stats(9)
• drm_show_memory_stats(9)
• drm_show_fdinfo(9)
• drm_file_err(9)
• mock_drm_getfile(9)

---

Alright bestie, that’s the page. Source/version vibe: this one comes from ./drivers/gpu/drm, dated October 2026, and it’s drm_poll(9) — no cap. Go forth and poll responsibly. 💖✨