usb_get_string(9)

📦 version 7.3.1, in nixpkgs unstable

💖 usb_get_string(9) — Kernel API Manual ✨

okay so bestie, this is the manpage for usb_get_string from the Kernel API Manual, and honestly it's giving "small function, big job" energy. Let's get into it 🫶

🌸 NAME

usb_get_string — gets a string descriptor ✨

🎀 SYNOPSIS

int usb_get_string (struct usb_device *dev , unsigned short langid ,
       unsigned char index , void *buf , int size );

💅 ARGUMENTS

  • dev — the device whose string descriptor is being retrieved 👑
  • langid — code for language chosen (from string descriptor zero) 🌈
  • index — the number of the descriptor 🔢
  • buf — where to put the string 💌
  • size — how big is "buf"? 🫶

🦋 CONTEXT

task context, might sleep. 😴 like, fr fr, she needs her beauty rest — no interrupt context energy allowed here.

🧚 DESCRIPTION

Retrieves a string, encoded using UTF-16LE (Unicode, 16 bits per character, in little-endian byte order). The usb_string function will often be a convenient way to turn these strings into kernel-printable form. 💖

Strings may be referenced in device, configuration, interface, or other descriptors, and could also be used in vendor-specific ways. no cap, they show up everywhere 👀

This call is synchronous, and may not be used in an interrupt context. 🚨 like literally do not, that's the whole vibe check.

⭐ RETURN

The number of bytes received on success, or else the status code returned by the underlying usb_control_msg call. 💀 that's it, that's the deal.

🔥 SEE ALSO

Kernel file ./drivers/usb/core/message.c plus the whole squad:

and that's the page, bestie 🎀 this iconic little doc lives in ./drivers/usb/core and it's dated October 2026 — go forth and get those strings. periodt. 💜✨

📦 where this page comes from