1 =========================================
2 How to get printk format specifiers right
3 =========================================
7 :Author: Randy Dunlap <rdunlap@infradead.org>
8 :Author: Andrew Murray <amurray@mpc-data.co.uk>
16 If variable is of Type, use printk format specifier:
17 ------------------------------------------------------------
18 signed char %d or %hhx
19 unsigned char %u or %x
22 unsigned short int %u or %x
26 unsigned long %lu or %lx
27 long long %lld or %llx
28 unsigned long long %llu or %llx
41 If <type> is architecture-dependent for its size (e.g., cycles_t, tcflag_t) or
42 is dependent on a config option for its size (e.g., blk_status_t), use a format
43 specifier of its largest possible type and explicitly cast to it.
47 printk("test: latency: %llu cycles\n", (unsigned long long)time);
49 Reminder: sizeof() returns type size_t.
51 The kernel's printf does not support %n. Floating point formats (%e, %f,
52 %g, %a) are also not recognized, for obvious reasons. Use of any
53 unsupported specifier or length qualifier results in a WARN and early
54 return from vsnprintf().
59 A raw pointer value may be printed with %p which will hash the address
60 before printing. The kernel also supports extended specifiers for printing
61 pointers of different types.
63 Some of the extended specifiers print the data on the given address instead
64 of printing the address itself. In this case, the following error messages
65 might be printed instead of the unreachable information::
67 (null) data on plain NULL address
68 (efault) data on invalid address
69 (einval) invalid data on a valid address
76 %p abcdef12 or 00000000abcdef12
78 Pointers printed without a specifier extension (i.e unadorned %p) are
79 hashed to prevent leaking information about the kernel memory layout. This
80 has the added benefit of providing a unique identifier. On 64-bit machines
81 the first 32 bits are zeroed. The kernel will print ``(ptrval)`` until it
82 gathers enough entropy.
84 When possible, use specialised modifiers such as %pS or %pB (described below)
85 to avoid the need of providing an unhashed address that has to be interpreted
86 post-hoc. If not possible, and the aim of printing the address is to provide
87 more information for debugging, use %p and boot the kernel with the
88 ``no_hash_pointers`` parameter during debugging, which will print all %p
89 addresses unmodified. If you *really* always want the unmodified address, see
92 If (and only if) you are printing addresses as a content of a virtual file in
93 e.g. procfs or sysfs (using e.g. seq_printf(), not printk()) read by a
94 userspace process, use the %pK modifier described below instead of %p or %px.
103 For printing error pointers (i.e. a pointer for which IS_ERR() is true)
104 as a symbolic error name. Error values for which no symbolic name is
105 known are printed in decimal, while a non-ERR_PTR passed as the
106 argument to %pe gets treated as ordinary %p.
108 Symbols/Function Pointers
109 -------------------------
113 %pS versatile_init+0x0/0x110
115 %pSR versatile_init+0x9/0x110
116 (with __builtin_extract_return_addr() translation)
117 %pB prev_fn_of_versatile_init+0x88/0x88
120 The ``S`` and ``s`` specifiers are used for printing a pointer in symbolic
121 format. They result in the symbol name with (S) or without (s)
122 offsets. If KALLSYMS are disabled then the symbol address is printed instead.
124 The ``B`` specifier results in the symbol name with offsets and should be
125 used when printing stack backtraces. The specifier takes into
126 consideration the effect of compiler optimisations which may occur
127 when tail-calls are used and marked with the noreturn GCC attribute.
129 If the pointer is within a module, the module name and optionally build ID is
130 printed after the symbol name with an extra ``b`` appended to the end of the
135 %pS versatile_init+0x0/0x110 [module_name]
136 %pSb versatile_init+0x0/0x110 [module_name ed5019fdf5e53be37cb1ba7899292d7e143b259e]
137 %pSRb versatile_init+0x9/0x110 [module_name ed5019fdf5e53be37cb1ba7899292d7e143b259e]
138 (with __builtin_extract_return_addr() translation)
139 %pBb prev_fn_of_versatile_init+0x88/0x88 [module_name ed5019fdf5e53be37cb1ba7899292d7e143b259e]
141 Probed Pointers from BPF / tracing
142 ----------------------------------
149 The ``k`` and ``u`` specifiers are used for printing prior probed memory from
150 either kernel memory (k) or user memory (u). The subsequent ``s`` specifier
151 results in printing a string. For direct use in regular vsnprintf() the (k)
152 and (u) annotation is ignored, however, when used out of BPF's bpf_trace_printk(),
153 for example, it reads the memory it is pointing to without faulting.
160 %pK 01234567 or 0123456789abcdef
162 For printing kernel pointers which should be hidden from unprivileged
163 users. The behaviour of %pK depends on the kptr_restrict sysctl - see
164 Documentation/admin-guide/sysctl/kernel.rst for more details.
166 This modifier is *only* intended when producing content of a file read by
167 userspace from e.g. procfs or sysfs, not for dmesg. Please refer to the
168 section about %p above for discussion about how to manage hashing pointers
176 %px 01234567 or 0123456789abcdef
178 For printing pointers when you *really* want to print the address. Please
179 consider whether or not you are leaking sensitive information about the
180 kernel memory layout before printing pointers with %px. %px is functionally
181 equivalent to %lx (or %lu). %px is preferred because it is more uniquely
182 grep'able. If in the future we need to modify the way the kernel handles
183 printing pointers we will be better equipped to find the call sites.
185 Before using %px, consider if using %p is sufficient together with enabling the
186 ``no_hash_pointers`` kernel parameter during debugging sessions (see the %p
187 description above). One valid scenario for %px might be printing information
188 immediately before a panic, which prevents any sensitive information to be
189 exploited anyway, and with %px there would be no need to reproduce the panic
190 with no_hash_pointers.
200 For printing the pointer differences, use the %t modifier for ptrdiff_t.
204 printk("test: difference between pointers: %td\n", ptr2 - ptr1);
211 %pr [mem 0x60000000-0x6fffffff flags 0x2200] or
212 [mem 0x60000000 flags 0x2200] or
213 [mem 0x0000000060000000-0x000000006fffffff flags 0x2200]
214 [mem 0x0000000060000000 flags 0x2200]
215 %pR [mem 0x60000000-0x6fffffff pref] or
216 [mem 0x60000000 pref] or
217 [mem 0x0000000060000000-0x000000006fffffff pref]
218 [mem 0x0000000060000000 pref]
220 For printing struct resources. The ``R`` and ``r`` specifiers result in a
221 printed resource with (R) or without (r) a decoded flags member. If start is
222 equal to end only print the start value.
226 Physical address types phys_addr_t
227 ----------------------------------
231 %pa[p] 0x01234567 or 0x0123456789abcdef
233 For printing a phys_addr_t type (and its derivatives, such as
234 resource_size_t) which can vary based on build options, regardless of the
235 width of the CPU data path.
244 %pra [range 0x0000000060000000-0x000000006fffffff] or
245 [range 0x0000000060000000]
247 For printing struct range. struct range holds an arbitrary range of u64
248 values. If start is equal to end only print the start value.
252 DMA address types dma_addr_t
253 ----------------------------
257 %pad 0x01234567 or 0x0123456789abcdef
259 For printing a dma_addr_t type which can vary based on build options,
260 regardless of the width of the CPU data path.
264 Raw buffer as an escaped string
265 -------------------------------
271 For printing raw buffer as an escaped string. For the following buffer::
273 1b 62 20 5c 43 07 22 90 0d 5d
275 A few examples show how the conversion would be done (excluding surrounding
278 %*pE "\eb \C\a"\220\r]"
279 %*pEhp "\x1bb \C\x07"\x90\x0d]"
280 %*pEa "\e\142\040\\\103\a\042\220\r\135"
282 The conversion rules are applied according to an optional combination
283 of flags (see :c:func:`string_escape_mem` kernel documentation for the
294 By default ESCAPE_ANY_NP is used.
296 ESCAPE_ANY_NP is the sane choice for many cases, in particularly for
299 If field width is omitted then 1 byte only will be escaped.
301 Raw buffer as a hex string
302 --------------------------
307 %*phC 00:01:02: ... :3f
308 %*phD 00-01-02- ... -3f
311 For printing small buffers (up to 64 bytes long) as a hex string with a
312 certain separator. For larger buffers consider using
313 :c:func:`print_hex_dump`.
320 %pM 00:01:02:03:04:05
321 %pMR 05:04:03:02:01:00
322 %pMF 00-01-02-03-04-05
326 For printing 6-byte MAC/FDDI addresses in hex notation. The ``M`` and ``m``
327 specifiers result in a printed address with (M) or without (m) byte
328 separators. The default byte separator is the colon (:).
330 Where FDDI addresses are concerned the ``F`` specifier can be used after
331 the ``M`` specifier to use dash (-) separators instead of the default
334 For Bluetooth addresses the ``R`` specifier shall be used after the ``M``
335 specifier to use reversed byte order suitable for visual interpretation
336 of Bluetooth addresses which are in the little endian order.
349 For printing IPv4 dot-separated decimal addresses. The ``I4`` and ``i4``
350 specifiers result in a printed address with (i4) or without (I4) leading
353 The additional ``h``, ``n``, ``b``, and ``l`` specifiers are used to specify
354 host, network, big or little endian order addresses respectively. Where
355 no specifier is provided the default network/big endian order is used.
364 %pI6 0001:0002:0003:0004:0005:0006:0007:0008
365 %pi6 00010002000300040005000600070008
366 %pI6c 1:2:3:4:5:6:7:8
368 For printing IPv6 network-order 16-bit hex addresses. The ``I6`` and ``i6``
369 specifiers result in a printed address with (I6) or without (i6)
370 colon-separators. Leading zeros are always used.
372 The additional ``c`` specifier can be used with the ``I`` specifier to
373 print a compressed IPv6 address as described by
374 https://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc5952
378 IPv4/IPv6 addresses (generic, with port, flowinfo, scope)
379 ---------------------------------------------------------
383 %pIS 1.2.3.4 or 0001:0002:0003:0004:0005:0006:0007:0008
384 %piS 001.002.003.004 or 00010002000300040005000600070008
385 %pISc 1.2.3.4 or 1:2:3:4:5:6:7:8
386 %pISpc 1.2.3.4:12345 or [1:2:3:4:5:6:7:8]:12345
389 For printing an IP address without the need to distinguish whether it's of
390 type AF_INET or AF_INET6. A pointer to a valid struct sockaddr,
391 specified through ``IS`` or ``iS``, can be passed to this format specifier.
393 The additional ``p``, ``f``, and ``s`` specifiers are used to specify port
394 (IPv4, IPv6), flowinfo (IPv6) and scope (IPv6). Ports have a ``:`` prefix,
395 flowinfo a ``/`` and scope a ``%``, each followed by the actual value.
397 In case of an IPv6 address the compressed IPv6 address as described by
398 https://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc5952 is being used if the additional
399 specifier ``c`` is given. The IPv6 address is surrounded by ``[``, ``]`` in
400 case of additional specifiers ``p``, ``f`` or ``s`` as suggested by
401 https://tools.ietf.org/html/draft-ietf-6man-text-addr-representation-07
403 In case of IPv4 addresses, the additional ``h``, ``n``, ``b``, and ``l``
404 specifiers can be used as well and are ignored in case of an IPv6
411 %pISfc 1.2.3.4 or [1:2:3:4:5:6:7:8]/123456789
412 %pISsc 1.2.3.4 or [1:2:3:4:5:6:7:8]%1234567890
413 %pISpfc 1.2.3.4:12345 or [1:2:3:4:5:6:7:8]:12345/123456789
420 %pUb 00010203-0405-0607-0809-0a0b0c0d0e0f
421 %pUB 00010203-0405-0607-0809-0A0B0C0D0E0F
422 %pUl 03020100-0504-0706-0809-0a0b0c0e0e0f
423 %pUL 03020100-0504-0706-0809-0A0B0C0E0E0F
425 For printing 16-byte UUID/GUIDs addresses. The additional ``l``, ``L``,
426 ``b`` and ``B`` specifiers are used to specify a little endian order in
427 lower (l) or upper case (L) hex notation - and big endian order in lower (b)
428 or upper case (B) hex notation.
430 Where no additional specifiers are used the default big endian
431 order with lower case hex notation will be printed.
443 For printing dentry name; if we race with :c:func:`d_move`, the name might
444 be a mix of old and new ones, but it won't oops. %pd dentry is a safer
445 equivalent of %s dentry->d_name.name we used to use, %pd<n> prints ``n``
446 last components. %pD does the same thing for struct file.
455 %pg sda, sda1 or loop0p1
457 For printing name of block_device pointers.
466 For printing struct va_format structures. These contain a format string
467 and va_list as follows::
474 Implements a "recursive vsnprintf".
476 Do not use this feature without some mechanism to verify the
477 correctness of the format string and va_list arguments.
489 For printing device tree node structures. Default behaviour is
492 - f - device node full_name
493 - n - device node name
494 - p - device node phandle
495 - P - device node path spec (name + @unit)
496 - F - device node flags
497 - c - major compatible string
498 - C - full compatible string
500 The separator when using multiple arguments is ':'
504 %pOF /foo/bar@0 - Node full name
505 %pOFf /foo/bar@0 - Same as above
506 %pOFfp /foo/bar@0:10 - Node full name + phandle
507 %pOFfcF /foo/bar@0:foo,device:--P- - Node full name +
508 major compatible string +
524 For printing information on fwnode handles. The default is to print the full
525 node name, including the path. The modifiers are functionally equivalent to
528 - f - full name of the node, including the path
529 - P - the name of the node including an address (if there is one)
533 %pfwf \_SB.PCI0.CIO2.port@1.endpoint@0 - Full node name
534 %pfwP endpoint@0 - Node name
538 %pfwf /ocp@68000000/i2c@48072000/camera@10/port/endpoint - Full name
539 %pfwP endpoint - Node name
546 %pt[RT] YYYY-mm-ddTHH:MM:SS
547 %pt[RT]s YYYY-mm-dd HH:MM:SS
552 For printing date and time as represented by::
554 R struct rtc_time structure
557 in human readable format.
559 By default year will be incremented by 1900 and month by 1.
560 Use %pt[RT]r (raw) to suppress this behaviour.
562 The %pt[RT]s (space) will override ISO 8601 separator by using ' ' (space)
563 instead of 'T' (Capital T) between date and time. It won't have any effect
564 when date or time is omitted.
576 For printing struct clk structures. %pC and %pCn print the name of the clock
577 (Common Clock Framework) or a unique 32-bit ID (legacy clock framework).
581 bitmap and its derivatives such as cpumask and nodemask
582 -------------------------------------------------------
589 For printing bitmap and its derivatives such as cpumask and nodemask,
590 %*pb outputs the bitmap with field width as the number of bits and %*pbl
591 output the bitmap as range list with field width as the number of bits.
593 The field width is passed by value, the bitmap is passed by reference.
594 Helper macros cpumask_pr_args() and nodemask_pr_args() are available to ease
595 printing cpumask and nodemask.
597 Flags bitfields such as page flags and gfp_flags
598 --------------------------------------------------------
602 %pGp 0x17ffffc0002036(referenced|uptodate|lru|active|private|node=0|zone=2|lastcpupid=0x1fffff)
603 %pGg GFP_USER|GFP_DMA32|GFP_NOWARN
604 %pGv read|exec|mayread|maywrite|mayexec|denywrite
606 For printing flags bitfields as a collection of symbolic constants that
607 would construct the value. The type of flags is given by the third
608 character. Currently supported are:
610 - p - [p]age flags, expects value of type (``unsigned long *``)
611 - v - [v]ma_flags, expects value of type (``unsigned long *``)
612 - g - [g]fp_flags, expects value of type (``gfp_t *``)
614 The flag names and print order depends on the particular type.
616 Note that this format should not be used directly in the
617 :c:func:`TP_printk()` part of a tracepoint. Instead, use the show_*_flags()
618 functions from <trace/events/mmflags.h>.
622 Network device features
623 -----------------------
627 %pNF 0x000000000000c000
629 For printing netdev_features_t.
633 V4L2 and DRM FourCC code (pixel format)
634 ---------------------------------------
640 Print a FourCC code used by V4L2 or DRM, including format endianness and
641 its numerical value as hexadecimal.
647 %p4cc BG12 little-endian (0x32314742)
648 %p4cc Y10 little-endian (0x20303159)
649 %p4cc NV12 big-endian (0xb231564e)
658 Only intended to be used from Rust code to format ``core::fmt::Arguments``.
659 Do *not* use it from C.
664 If you add other %p extensions, please extend <lib/test_printf.c> with
665 one or more test cases, if at all feasible.
667 Thank you for your cooperation and attention.