nla_validate(9)

📦 version 7.3.1, in nixpkgs unstable

💖 NAME 💖

nla_validate(9) — fresh from the Kernel API Manual — is the function that validates a stream of attributes. It’s giving “trust but verify,” except the verify part is the whole personality. ✨

📜 SYNOPSIS 📜

int nla_validate (const struct nlattr *head , int len , int maxtype ,
       const struct nla_policy *policy , struct netlink_ext_ack *extack );

🧾 ARGUMENTS 🧾

  • head — head of attribute stream. Like, the starting point, bestie. 🫶
  • len — length of attribute stream.
  • maxtype — maximum attribute type to be expected.
  • policy — validation policy. The rulebook, fr fr.
  • extack — extended ACK report struct.

🦋 DESCRIPTION 🦋

So nla_validate validates all attributes in the specified attribute stream against the specified policy. All of them. No skipping, no “oh that one’s probably fine.” 💅

Validation is done in strict mode — yes, strict mode, the whole vibe. See documentation of struct nla_policy for more details. That’s where the lore lives, iykyk.

Strict mode is the moment: validation is done in strict mode, periodt.

🎀 RETURN 🎀

0 on success or a negative error code. Slay. ✅

🌈 SEE ALSO 🌈

The whole reference squad, in original order — Kernel file ./include/net/netlink.h and then:

🌸 Cute little sign-off: source/version ./include/net, dated October 2026, page nla_validate(9). Bye bestie, go validate those attributes! 💖

📦 where this page comes from