kernfs_create_root(9)

💅 kernfs_create_root(9) — the Kernel API Manual moment 🎀

okay bestie, sit down, hydrate, and let me tell you about kernfs_create_root(9) because this one is literally the birth of a whole kernfs hierarchy and honestly? iconic. this is from the Kernel API Manual, and it's giving ✨genesis✨.

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🌸 NAME 🌸

kernfs_create_root — create a new kernfs hierarchy 🦋

like, a whole new tree. from scratch. main character energy fr fr.

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✨ SYNOPSIS ✨

struct kernfs_root * kernfs_create_root (struct kernfs_syscall_ops
*scops , unsigned int flags , void *priv );

that signature ate and left no crumbs, no cap 💅

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🫶 ARGUMENTS 🫶

• scops — optional syscall operations for the hierarchy. optional, bestie, meaning you can absolutely pass nothing and it's still valid. lowkey freeing.
• flags — the KERNFS_ROOT_* flags. yes, the star is a wildcard, it's a whole family of flags, we love a flexible queen 👑
• priv — opaque data associated with the new directory. opaque means we don't look inside, it's private, it's hers, don't ask 🙈

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🌈 RETURN 🌈

on success you get the root of the new hierarchy — your brand new tree's root node, your baby, your masterpiece 🌱

on failure you get an ERR_PTR value. so like, check it. don't just raw-dog a pointer, that's not the vibe 😭

💀 reminder: ERR_PTR is an error disguised as a pointer. IS_ERR() it before you go dereferencing anything, or the kernel will simply end you. fr fr.

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🧚 SEE ALSO 🧚

the whole friend group showed up for this one, and honestly? obsessed. 💖

Kernel file ./fs/kernfs/dir.c, plus:

• kernfs_path_from_node_locked(9)
• kernfs_name(9)
• kernfs_path_from_node(9)
• pr_cont_kernfs_name(9)
• pr_cont_kernfs_path(9)
• kernfs_get_parent(9)
• kernfs_name_hash(9)
• kernfs_link_sibling(9)
• kernfs_unlink_sibling(9)
• kernfs_get_active(9)
• kernfs_put_active(9)
• kernfs_drain(9)
• kernfs_get(9)
• kernfs_put(9)
• kernfs_node_from_dentry(9)
• kernfs_add_one(9)
• kernfs_find_ns(9)
• kernfs_find_and_get_ns(9)
• kernfs_walk_and_get_ns(9)
• kernfs_destroy_root(9)
• kernfs_root_to_node(9)
• kernfs_create_dir_ns(9)
• kernfs_create_empty_dir(9)
• kernfs_next_descendant_post(9)
• kernfs_activate(9)
• kernfs_show(9)
• kernfs_remove(9)
• kernfs_break_active_protection(9)
• kernfs_unbreak_active_protection(9)
• kernfs_remove_self(9)
• kernfs_remove_by_name_ns(9)
• kernfs_rename_ns(9)

iykyk 💅

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mwah 💋 this page lives in ./fs/kernfs, it's dated October 2026, and it's filed under kernfs_create_root(9) — go forth and build trees, bestie, you're gonna slay 🌟