April 19, 1994 NLIST 3

### NAME

nlist - retrieve symbol table name list from an executable file

### LIBRARY

Standard C Library (libc, -lc)

### SYNOPSIS

```int` nlist(```const char *filename``, struct nlist *nl`)

### DESCRIPTION

The nlist(``) function retrieves name list entries from the symbol table of an executable file. (See a.out(5).) The argument ```nl` is set to reference the beginning of the list. The list is preened of binary and invalid data; if an entry in the name list is valid, the ```n_type` and ```n_value` for the entry are copied into the list referenced by ```nl`. No other data is copied. The last entry in the list is always ```NULL`.

### RETURN VALUES

The number of invalid entries is returned if successful; otherwise, if the file ```filename` does not exist or is not executable, the returned value is -1.

### SEE ALSO

a.out(5)

### HISTORY

A nlist(``) function appeared in Version 6 `AT&T UNIX`.