snd_pcm_lib_ioctl(9)

📦 version 7.3.1, in nixpkgs unstable

👑 snd_pcm_lib_ioctl(9) — the Kernel API Manual, but make it make sense

okay so bestie, welcome to snd_pcm_lib_ioctl(9) — yes that's the section 9 kernel API manual, we're in driver dev territory now 💅 don't panic, it's actually so chill. This is the generic PCM ioctl callback, and by the end of this page you're gonna be obsessed with it. fr fr.

✨ NAME ✨

snd_pcm_lib_ioctl — a generic PCM ioctl callback 🎀

🌸 SYNOPSIS 🌸

int snd_pcm_lib_ioctl (struct snd_pcm_substream *substream , unsigned
int cmd , void *arg );

like, that's the whole signature. short and iconic, no notes 🫶

🦋 ARGUMENTS 🦋

  • substream — the pcm substream instance 👑 this is the actual stream you're dealing with
  • cmd — ioctl command 💫 the thing you're asking it to do
  • arg — ioctl argument 🎀 the lil payload that goes with the command

💖 DESCRIPTION 💖

so what does it do? it processes the generic ioctl commands for PCM. that's the whole vibe ✨

and the slay part: you can pass it as the ioctl callback for PCM ops 🔥 like, literally hand it over as your callback and it just handles the generic stuff for you. main character energy, honestly.

⭐ RETURN ⭐

zero if successful — or a negative error code on failure 😭 so check it, bestie, don't just ignore the return value, i'm begging.

🌈 SEE ALSO 🌈

the kernel file lives at ./sound/core/pcm_lib.c 📁 and here's the whole friend group, no cap, all of them:

that's thirty whole functions bestie, thirty. go read them, i'll wait 💅

lowkey reminder: this page is from the ./sound/core corner of the kernel tree, dated October 2026, and it's filed under snd_pcm_lib_ioctl(9) — that's the source, the date and the whole identity, all in one cute lil sign-off 🌸 bye bestie, go write a driver 🧚💜
📦 where this page comes from