STRUCT V4L2_CREATE_BUFFERS(9)

💅 struct v4l2_create_buffers(9) 💅

okay bestie, so this is a page straight outta the Kernel API Manual — it's the man page for struct v4l2_create_buffers(9), and it's literally the argument struct for VIDIOC_CREATE_BUFS. no cap, that's the whole NAME section. let's get into it 🎀

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✨ SYNOPSIS ✨

like, here's the shape of it, exactly as it lives in the kernel:

struct v4l2_create_buffers {
    __u32 index;
    __u32 count;
    __u32 memory;
    struct v4l2_format      format;
    __u32 capabilities;
    __u32 flags;
    __u32 max_num_buffers;
    __u32 reserved[5];
 };

look at her. so structured. so organized. main character struct energy fr fr 👑

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🌸 Members 🌸

• index — on return, this is the index of the first created buffer 💖 so like, the kernel hands it back to you after the call.
• count — entry: the number of buffers you're requesting 👀 that's you telling the kernel how many you want, going in.
• memory — enum v4l2_memory; this is the buffer memory type. pick your vibe.
• format — the frame format that the buffers are being requested for ✨ it's giving "what are these buffers even for."
• capabilities — the capabilities of this buffer type. iykyk.
• flags — extra buffer management attributes 🦋 but lowkey ignored unless the queue has the V4L2_BUF_CAP_SUPPORTS_MMAP_CACHE_HINTS capability and is configured for MMAP streaming I/O. so don't just assume they do something, bestie.
• max_num_buffers — if the V4L2_BUF_CAP_SUPPORTS_MAX_NUM_BUFFERS capability flag is set, this field indicates the maximum possible number of buffers for this queue 🔥 otherwise it's just sitting there.
• reserved — future extensions 🧚 like, reserved for the kernel girlies of tomorrow. don't touch.

heads up: reserved[5] is literally an array of five. it's reserved, plural, and it's for future extensions. respect her space 🙈

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⭐ Return ⭐

the return value is the number of created buffers — that's it, that's the number. slay.

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🦋 SEE ALSO 🦋

kernel file ./include/uapi/linux/videodev2.h, plus the whole friend group:

• struct v4l2_capability(9)
• struct v4l2_plane(9)
• struct v4l2_buffer(9)
• v4l2_timeval_to_ns(9)
• struct v4l2_exportbuffer(9)
• struct v4l2_selection(9)
• struct v4l2_plane_pix_format(9)
• struct v4l2_pix_format_mplane(9)
• struct v4l2_sdr_format(9)
• struct v4l2_meta_format(9)
• struct v4l2_format(9)
• struct v4l2_event_motion_det(9)
• struct v4l2_remove_buffers(9)

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and that's the page, bestie!! 💜 this one shipped out of ./include/uapi/linux, dated October 2026, and it's literally filed under struct v4l2_create_buffers(9) — go create some buffers, you've got this 🫶✨🌈