1 =========================================
2 How to get printk format specifiers right
3 =========================================
5 :Author: Randy Dunlap <rdunlap@infradead.org>
6 :Author: Andrew Murray <amurray@mpc-data.co.uk>
14 If variable is of Type, use printk format specifier:
15 ------------------------------------------------------------
19 unsigned long %lu or %lx
20 long long %lld or %llx
21 unsigned long long %llu or %llx
29 If <type> is dependent on a config option for its size (e.g., ``sector_t``,
30 ``blkcnt_t``) or is architecture-dependent for its size (e.g., ``tcflag_t``),
31 use a format specifier of its largest possible type and explicitly cast to it.
35 printk("test: sector number/total blocks: %llu/%llu\n",
36 (unsigned long long)sector, (unsigned long long)blockcount);
38 Reminder: ``sizeof()`` result is of type ``size_t``.
40 The kernel's printf does not support ``%n``. For obvious reasons, floating
41 point formats (``%e, %f, %g, %a``) are also not recognized. Use of any
42 unsupported specifier or length qualifier results in a WARN and early
43 return from vsnprintf.
45 Raw pointer value SHOULD be printed with %p. The kernel supports
46 the following extended format specifiers for pointer types:
48 Symbols/Function Pointers
49 =========================
53 %pF versatile_init+0x0/0x110
55 %pS versatile_init+0x0/0x110
56 %pSR versatile_init+0x9/0x110
57 (with __builtin_extract_return_addr() translation)
59 %pB prev_fn_of_versatile_init+0x88/0x88
61 The ``F`` and ``f`` specifiers are for printing function pointers,
62 for example, f->func, &gettimeofday. They have the same result as
63 ``S`` and ``s`` specifiers. But they do an extra conversion on
64 ia64, ppc64 and parisc64 architectures where the function pointers
65 are actually function descriptors.
67 The ``S`` and ``s`` specifiers can be used for printing symbols
68 from direct addresses, for example, __builtin_return_address(0),
69 (void *)regs->ip. They result in the symbol name with (``S``) or
70 without (``s``) offsets. If KALLSYMS are disabled then the symbol
71 address is printed instead.
73 The ``B`` specifier results in the symbol name with offsets and should be
74 used when printing stack backtraces. The specifier takes into
75 consideration the effect of compiler optimisations which may occur
76 when tail-call``s are used and marked with the noreturn GCC attribute.
80 printk("Going to call: %pF\n", gettimeofday);
81 printk("Going to call: %pF\n", p->func);
82 printk("%s: called from %pS\n", __func__, (void *)_RET_IP_);
83 printk("%s: called from %pS\n", __func__,
84 (void *)__builtin_return_address(0));
85 printk("Faulted at %pS\n", (void *)regs->ip);
86 printk(" %s%pB\n", (reliable ? "" : "? "), (void *)*stack);
94 %pK 0x01234567 or 0x0123456789abcdef
96 For printing kernel pointers which should be hidden from unprivileged
97 users. The behaviour of ``%pK`` depends on the ``kptr_restrict sysctl`` - see
98 Documentation/sysctl/kernel.txt for more details.
105 %pr [mem 0x60000000-0x6fffffff flags 0x2200] or
106 [mem 0x0000000060000000-0x000000006fffffff flags 0x2200]
107 %pR [mem 0x60000000-0x6fffffff pref] or
108 [mem 0x0000000060000000-0x000000006fffffff pref]
110 For printing struct resources. The ``R`` and ``r`` specifiers result in a
111 printed resource with (``R``) or without (``r``) a decoded flags member.
114 Physical addresses types ``phys_addr_t``
115 ========================================
119 %pa[p] 0x01234567 or 0x0123456789abcdef
121 For printing a ``phys_addr_t`` type (and its derivatives, such as
122 ``resource_size_t``) which can vary based on build options, regardless of
123 the width of the CPU data path. Passed by reference.
125 DMA addresses types ``dma_addr_t``
126 ==================================
130 %pad 0x01234567 or 0x0123456789abcdef
132 For printing a ``dma_addr_t`` type which can vary based on build options,
133 regardless of the width of the CPU data path. Passed by reference.
135 Raw buffer as an escaped string
136 ===============================
142 For printing raw buffer as an escaped string. For the following buffer::
144 1b 62 20 5c 43 07 22 90 0d 5d
146 few examples show how the conversion would be done (the result string
147 without surrounding quotes)::
149 %*pE "\eb \C\a"\220\r]"
150 %*pEhp "\x1bb \C\x07"\x90\x0d]"
151 %*pEa "\e\142\040\\\103\a\042\220\r\135"
153 The conversion rules are applied according to an optional combination
154 of flags (see :c:func:`string_escape_mem` kernel documentation for the
158 - ``c`` - ESCAPE_SPECIAL
160 - ``n`` - ESCAPE_NULL
161 - ``o`` - ESCAPE_OCTAL
163 - ``s`` - ESCAPE_SPACE
165 By default ESCAPE_ANY_NP is used.
167 ESCAPE_ANY_NP is the sane choice for many cases, in particularly for
170 If field width is omitted the 1 byte only will be escaped.
172 Raw buffer as a hex string
173 ==========================
178 %*phC 00:01:02: ... :3f
179 %*phD 00-01-02- ... -3f
182 For printing a small buffers (up to 64 bytes long) as a hex string with
183 certain separator. For the larger buffers consider to use
184 :c:func:`print_hex_dump`.
191 %pM 00:01:02:03:04:05
192 %pMR 05:04:03:02:01:00
193 %pMF 00-01-02-03-04-05
197 For printing 6-byte MAC/FDDI addresses in hex notation. The ``M`` and ``m``
198 specifiers result in a printed address with (``M``) or without (``m``) byte
199 separators. The default byte separator is the colon (``:``).
201 Where FDDI addresses are concerned the ``F`` specifier can be used after
202 the ``M`` specifier to use dash (``-``) separators instead of the default
205 For Bluetooth addresses the ``R`` specifier shall be used after the ``M``
206 specifier to use reversed byte order suitable for visual interpretation
207 of Bluetooth addresses which are in the little endian order.
220 For printing IPv4 dot-separated decimal addresses. The ``I4`` and ``i4``
221 specifiers result in a printed address with (``i4``) or without (``I4``)
224 The additional ``h``, ``n``, ``b``, and ``l`` specifiers are used to specify
225 host, network, big or little endian order addresses respectively. Where
226 no specifier is provided the default network/big endian order is used.
235 %pI6 0001:0002:0003:0004:0005:0006:0007:0008
236 %pi6 00010002000300040005000600070008
237 %pI6c 1:2:3:4:5:6:7:8
239 For printing IPv6 network-order 16-bit hex addresses. The ``I6`` and ``i6``
240 specifiers result in a printed address with (``I6``) or without (``i6``)
241 colon-separators. Leading zeros are always used.
243 The additional ``c`` specifier can be used with the ``I`` specifier to
244 print a compressed IPv6 address as described by
245 http://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc5952
249 IPv4/IPv6 addresses (generic, with port, flowinfo, scope)
250 =========================================================
254 %pIS 1.2.3.4 or 0001:0002:0003:0004:0005:0006:0007:0008
255 %piS 001.002.003.004 or 00010002000300040005000600070008
256 %pISc 1.2.3.4 or 1:2:3:4:5:6:7:8
257 %pISpc 1.2.3.4:12345 or [1:2:3:4:5:6:7:8]:12345
260 For printing an IP address without the need to distinguish whether it``s
261 of type AF_INET or AF_INET6, a pointer to a valid ``struct sockaddr``,
262 specified through ``IS`` or ``iS``, can be passed to this format specifier.
264 The additional ``p``, ``f``, and ``s`` specifiers are used to specify port
265 (IPv4, IPv6), flowinfo (IPv6) and scope (IPv6). Ports have a ``:`` prefix,
266 flowinfo a ``/`` and scope a ``%``, each followed by the actual value.
268 In case of an IPv6 address the compressed IPv6 address as described by
269 http://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc5952 is being used if the additional
270 specifier ``c`` is given. The IPv6 address is surrounded by ``[``, ``]`` in
271 case of additional specifiers ``p``, ``f`` or ``s`` as suggested by
272 https://tools.ietf.org/html/draft-ietf-6man-text-addr-representation-07
274 In case of IPv4 addresses, the additional ``h``, ``n``, ``b``, and ``l``
275 specifiers can be used as well and are ignored in case of an IPv6
282 %pISfc 1.2.3.4 or [1:2:3:4:5:6:7:8]/123456789
283 %pISsc 1.2.3.4 or [1:2:3:4:5:6:7:8]%1234567890
284 %pISpfc 1.2.3.4:12345 or [1:2:3:4:5:6:7:8]:12345/123456789
291 %pUb 00010203-0405-0607-0809-0a0b0c0d0e0f
292 %pUB 00010203-0405-0607-0809-0A0B0C0D0E0F
293 %pUl 03020100-0504-0706-0809-0a0b0c0e0e0f
294 %pUL 03020100-0504-0706-0809-0A0B0C0E0E0F
296 For printing 16-byte UUID/GUIDs addresses. The additional 'l', 'L',
297 'b' and 'B' specifiers are used to specify a little endian order in
298 lower ('l') or upper case ('L') hex characters - and big endian order
299 in lower ('b') or upper case ('B') hex characters.
301 Where no additional specifiers are used the default big endian
302 order with lower case hex characters will be printed.
314 For printing dentry name; if we race with :c:func:`d_move`, the name might be
315 a mix of old and new ones, but it won't oops. ``%pd`` dentry is a safer
316 equivalent of ``%s`` ``dentry->d_name.name`` we used to use, ``%pd<n>`` prints
317 ``n`` last components. ``%pD`` does the same thing for struct file.
326 %pg sda, sda1 or loop0p1
328 For printing name of block_device pointers.
337 For printing struct va_format structures. These contain a format string
338 and va_list as follows::
345 Implements a "recursive vsnprintf".
347 Do not use this feature without some mechanism to verify the
348 correctness of the format string and va_list arguments.
359 Base specifier for kobject based structs. Must be followed with
360 character for specific type of kobject as listed below:
366 For printing device tree nodes. The optional arguments are:
367 f device node full_name
369 p device node phandle
370 P device node path spec (name + @unit)
372 c major compatible string
373 C full compatible string
374 Without any arguments prints full_name (same as %pOFf)
375 The separator when using multiple arguments is ':'
379 %pOF /foo/bar@0 - Node full name
380 %pOFf /foo/bar@0 - Same as above
381 %pOFfp /foo/bar@0:10 - Node full name + phandle
382 %pOFfcF /foo/bar@0:foo,device:--P- - Node full name +
383 major compatible string +
402 For printing struct clk structures. ``%pC`` and ``%pCn`` print the name
403 (Common Clock Framework) or address (legacy clock framework) of the
404 structure; ``%pCr`` prints the current clock rate.
408 bitmap and its derivatives such as cpumask and nodemask
409 =======================================================
416 For printing bitmap and its derivatives such as cpumask and nodemask,
417 ``%*pb`` output the bitmap with field width as the number of bits and ``%*pbl``
418 output the bitmap as range list with field width as the number of bits.
422 Flags bitfields such as page flags, gfp_flags
423 =============================================
427 %pGp referenced|uptodate|lru|active|private
428 %pGg GFP_USER|GFP_DMA32|GFP_NOWARN
429 %pGv read|exec|mayread|maywrite|mayexec|denywrite
431 For printing flags bitfields as a collection of symbolic constants that
432 would construct the value. The type of flags is given by the third
433 character. Currently supported are [p]age flags, [v]ma_flags (both
434 expect ``unsigned long *``) and [g]fp_flags (expects ``gfp_t *``). The flag
435 names and print order depends on the particular type.
437 Note that this format should not be used directly in :c:func:`TP_printk()` part
438 of a tracepoint. Instead, use the ``show_*_flags()`` functions from
439 <trace/events/mmflags.h>.
443 Network device features
444 =======================
448 %pNF 0x000000000000c000
450 For printing netdev_features_t.
454 If you add other ``%p`` extensions, please extend lib/test_printf.c with
455 one or more test cases, if at all feasible.
458 Thank you for your cooperation and attention.