EOF3const

Usage

#include <stdio.h>

Library

Standard C library (libc)

Overview

EOF represents the end of an input file, or an error indication. It is a negative value, of type int.

EOF is not a character (it can't be represented by unsigned char). It is instead a sentinel value outside of the valid range for valid characters.

Caveats

Programs can't pass this value to an output function to "write" the end of a file. That would likely result in undefined behavior. Instead, closing the writing stream or file descriptor that refers to such file is the way to signal the end of that file.