STRUCT UVC_META_BUF(9)

💅 struct uvc_meta_buf(9) — the Kernel API Manual, but make it cute

okay so bestie, this page is from the Kernel API Manual and it's literally all about struct uvc_meta_buf — one little building block that metadata buffers are made of. it's giving "tiny but crucial" ngl 🎀

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✨ NAME ✨

struct uvc_meta_buf — the metadata buffer building block. that's it, that's the whole vibe. 🦋

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🌸 SYNOPSIS 🌸

struct uvc_meta_buf {
    __u64 ns;
    __u16 sof;
    __u8 length;
    __u8 flags;
    __u8 buf[];
 };

look at her. five fields. absolutely iconic layout. 👑

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💖 Members 💖

• ns — the system timestamp of the payload, in nanoseconds. yes, nanoseconds, she's precise. ⏱️
• sof — the USB Frame Number. frame number bestie, frame number. 🔢
• length — length of the payload header. 📏
• flags — the payload header flags. 🚩
• buf — optional device-specific header data. optional!! she doesn't have to show up if she doesn't want to. 🙈

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🫶 Description 🫶

so here's the tea: UVC metadata nodes fill buffers with possibly multiple instances of this struct. like, more than one, packed in there. no cap. 🧚

the first two fields — that's ns and sof — are added by the driver. and what are they for? clock synchronisation, bestie. that's their whole main character energy. 🕰️✨

the rest is an exact copy of a UVC payload header. exact. character for character. she does not paraphrase. 💅

and the important bit: only complete objects with complete buffers are included. no half-finished little guys, no partial vibes. so because of that, the thing is always

sizeof(meta->ns) + sizeof(meta->sof) + meta->length

bytes large. always. periodt. 🔥

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👑 SEE ALSO 👑

• the kernel file ./include/uapi/linux/uvcvideo.h — go read her, she's right there. 📂

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and that's the whole page!! mwah 💋

this cutie lives in ./include/uapi/linux, dated October 2026, and she goes by struct uvc_meta_buf(9). go off queen 🌈💜🍓