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
30 If <type> is dependent on a config option for its size (e.g., sector_t,
31 blkcnt_t) or is architecture-dependent for its size (e.g., tcflag_t), use a
32 format specifier of its largest possible type and explicitly cast to it.
36 printk("test: sector number/total blocks: %llu/%llu\n",
37 (unsigned long long)sector, (unsigned long long)blockcount);
39 Reminder: sizeof() returns type size_t.
41 The kernel's printf does not support %n. Floating point formats (%e, %f,
42 %g, %a) are also not recognized, for obvious reasons. Use of any
43 unsupported specifier or length qualifier results in a WARN and early
44 return from vsnprintf().
49 A raw pointer value may be printed with %p which will hash the address
50 before printing. The kernel also supports extended specifiers for printing
51 pointers of different types.
58 %p abcdef12 or 00000000abcdef12
60 Pointers printed without a specifier extension (i.e unadorned %p) are
61 hashed to prevent leaking information about the kernel memory layout. This
62 has the added benefit of providing a unique identifier. On 64-bit machines
63 the first 32 bits are zeroed. The kernel will print ``(ptrval)`` until it
64 gathers enough entropy. If you *really* want the address see %px below.
66 Symbols/Function Pointers
67 -------------------------
71 %pS versatile_init+0x0/0x110
73 %pF versatile_init+0x0/0x110
75 %pSR versatile_init+0x9/0x110
76 (with __builtin_extract_return_addr() translation)
77 %pB prev_fn_of_versatile_init+0x88/0x88
80 The ``S`` and ``s`` specifiers are used for printing a pointer in symbolic
81 format. They result in the symbol name with (S) or without (s)
82 offsets. If KALLSYMS are disabled then the symbol address is printed instead.
84 Note, that the ``F`` and ``f`` specifiers are identical to ``S`` (``s``)
85 and thus deprecated. We have ``F`` and ``f`` because on ia64, ppc64 and
86 parisc64 function pointers are indirect and, in fact, are function
87 descriptors, which require additional dereferencing before we can lookup
88 the symbol. As of now, ``S`` and ``s`` perform dereferencing on those
89 platforms (when needed), so ``F`` and ``f`` exist for compatibility
92 The ``B`` specifier results in the symbol name with offsets and should be
93 used when printing stack backtraces. The specifier takes into
94 consideration the effect of compiler optimisations which may occur
95 when tail-calls are used and marked with the noreturn GCC attribute.
102 %pK 01234567 or 0123456789abcdef
104 For printing kernel pointers which should be hidden from unprivileged
105 users. The behaviour of %pK depends on the kptr_restrict sysctl - see
106 Documentation/sysctl/kernel.txt for more details.
113 %px 01234567 or 0123456789abcdef
115 For printing pointers when you *really* want to print the address. Please
116 consider whether or not you are leaking sensitive information about the
117 kernel memory layout before printing pointers with %px. %px is functionally
118 equivalent to %lx (or %lu). %px is preferred because it is more uniquely
119 grep'able. If in the future we need to modify the way the kernel handles
120 printing pointers we will be better equipped to find the call sites.
127 %pr [mem 0x60000000-0x6fffffff flags 0x2200] or
128 [mem 0x0000000060000000-0x000000006fffffff flags 0x2200]
129 %pR [mem 0x60000000-0x6fffffff pref] or
130 [mem 0x0000000060000000-0x000000006fffffff pref]
132 For printing struct resources. The ``R`` and ``r`` specifiers result in a
133 printed resource with (R) or without (r) a decoded flags member.
137 Physical address types phys_addr_t
138 ----------------------------------
142 %pa[p] 0x01234567 or 0x0123456789abcdef
144 For printing a phys_addr_t type (and its derivatives, such as
145 resource_size_t) which can vary based on build options, regardless of the
146 width of the CPU data path.
150 DMA address types dma_addr_t
151 ----------------------------
155 %pad 0x01234567 or 0x0123456789abcdef
157 For printing a dma_addr_t type which can vary based on build options,
158 regardless of the width of the CPU data path.
162 Raw buffer as an escaped string
163 -------------------------------
169 For printing raw buffer as an escaped string. For the following buffer::
171 1b 62 20 5c 43 07 22 90 0d 5d
173 A few examples show how the conversion would be done (excluding surrounding
176 %*pE "\eb \C\a"\220\r]"
177 %*pEhp "\x1bb \C\x07"\x90\x0d]"
178 %*pEa "\e\142\040\\\103\a\042\220\r\135"
180 The conversion rules are applied according to an optional combination
181 of flags (see :c:func:`string_escape_mem` kernel documentation for the
192 By default ESCAPE_ANY_NP is used.
194 ESCAPE_ANY_NP is the sane choice for many cases, in particularly for
197 If field width is omitted then 1 byte only will be escaped.
199 Raw buffer as a hex string
200 --------------------------
205 %*phC 00:01:02: ... :3f
206 %*phD 00-01-02- ... -3f
209 For printing small buffers (up to 64 bytes long) as a hex string with a
210 certain separator. For larger buffers consider using
211 :c:func:`print_hex_dump`.
218 %pM 00:01:02:03:04:05
219 %pMR 05:04:03:02:01:00
220 %pMF 00-01-02-03-04-05
224 For printing 6-byte MAC/FDDI addresses in hex notation. The ``M`` and ``m``
225 specifiers result in a printed address with (M) or without (m) byte
226 separators. The default byte separator is the colon (:).
228 Where FDDI addresses are concerned the ``F`` specifier can be used after
229 the ``M`` specifier to use dash (-) separators instead of the default
232 For Bluetooth addresses the ``R`` specifier shall be used after the ``M``
233 specifier to use reversed byte order suitable for visual interpretation
234 of Bluetooth addresses which are in the little endian order.
247 For printing IPv4 dot-separated decimal addresses. The ``I4`` and ``i4``
248 specifiers result in a printed address with (i4) or without (I4) leading
251 The additional ``h``, ``n``, ``b``, and ``l`` specifiers are used to specify
252 host, network, big or little endian order addresses respectively. Where
253 no specifier is provided the default network/big endian order is used.
262 %pI6 0001:0002:0003:0004:0005:0006:0007:0008
263 %pi6 00010002000300040005000600070008
264 %pI6c 1:2:3:4:5:6:7:8
266 For printing IPv6 network-order 16-bit hex addresses. The ``I6`` and ``i6``
267 specifiers result in a printed address with (I6) or without (i6)
268 colon-separators. Leading zeros are always used.
270 The additional ``c`` specifier can be used with the ``I`` specifier to
271 print a compressed IPv6 address as described by
272 http://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc5952
276 IPv4/IPv6 addresses (generic, with port, flowinfo, scope)
277 ---------------------------------------------------------
281 %pIS 1.2.3.4 or 0001:0002:0003:0004:0005:0006:0007:0008
282 %piS 001.002.003.004 or 00010002000300040005000600070008
283 %pISc 1.2.3.4 or 1:2:3:4:5:6:7:8
284 %pISpc 1.2.3.4:12345 or [1:2:3:4:5:6:7:8]:12345
287 For printing an IP address without the need to distinguish whether it's of
288 type AF_INET or AF_INET6. A pointer to a valid struct sockaddr,
289 specified through ``IS`` or ``iS``, can be passed to this format specifier.
291 The additional ``p``, ``f``, and ``s`` specifiers are used to specify port
292 (IPv4, IPv6), flowinfo (IPv6) and scope (IPv6). Ports have a ``:`` prefix,
293 flowinfo a ``/`` and scope a ``%``, each followed by the actual value.
295 In case of an IPv6 address the compressed IPv6 address as described by
296 http://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc5952 is being used if the additional
297 specifier ``c`` is given. The IPv6 address is surrounded by ``[``, ``]`` in
298 case of additional specifiers ``p``, ``f`` or ``s`` as suggested by
299 https://tools.ietf.org/html/draft-ietf-6man-text-addr-representation-07
301 In case of IPv4 addresses, the additional ``h``, ``n``, ``b``, and ``l``
302 specifiers can be used as well and are ignored in case of an IPv6
309 %pISfc 1.2.3.4 or [1:2:3:4:5:6:7:8]/123456789
310 %pISsc 1.2.3.4 or [1:2:3:4:5:6:7:8]%1234567890
311 %pISpfc 1.2.3.4:12345 or [1:2:3:4:5:6:7:8]:12345/123456789
318 %pUb 00010203-0405-0607-0809-0a0b0c0d0e0f
319 %pUB 00010203-0405-0607-0809-0A0B0C0D0E0F
320 %pUl 03020100-0504-0706-0809-0a0b0c0e0e0f
321 %pUL 03020100-0504-0706-0809-0A0B0C0E0E0F
323 For printing 16-byte UUID/GUIDs addresses. The additional ``l``, ``L``,
324 ``b`` and ``B`` specifiers are used to specify a little endian order in
325 lower (l) or upper case (L) hex notation - and big endian order in lower (b)
326 or upper case (B) hex notation.
328 Where no additional specifiers are used the default big endian
329 order with lower case hex notation will be printed.
341 For printing dentry name; if we race with :c:func:`d_move`, the name might
342 be a mix of old and new ones, but it won't oops. %pd dentry is a safer
343 equivalent of %s dentry->d_name.name we used to use, %pd<n> prints ``n``
344 last components. %pD does the same thing for struct file.
353 %pg sda, sda1 or loop0p1
355 For printing name of block_device pointers.
364 For printing struct va_format structures. These contain a format string
365 and va_list as follows::
372 Implements a "recursive vsnprintf".
374 Do not use this feature without some mechanism to verify the
375 correctness of the format string and va_list arguments.
387 For printing device tree node structures. Default behaviour is
390 - f - device node full_name
391 - n - device node name
392 - p - device node phandle
393 - P - device node path spec (name + @unit)
394 - F - device node flags
395 - c - major compatible string
396 - C - full compatible string
398 The separator when using multiple arguments is ':'
402 %pOF /foo/bar@0 - Node full name
403 %pOFf /foo/bar@0 - Same as above
404 %pOFfp /foo/bar@0:10 - Node full name + phandle
405 %pOFfcF /foo/bar@0:foo,device:--P- - Node full name +
406 major compatible string +
423 For printing struct clk structures. %pC and %pCn print the name of the clock
424 (Common Clock Framework) or a unique 32-bit ID (legacy clock framework).
428 bitmap and its derivatives such as cpumask and nodemask
429 -------------------------------------------------------
436 For printing bitmap and its derivatives such as cpumask and nodemask,
437 %*pb outputs the bitmap with field width as the number of bits and %*pbl
438 output the bitmap as range list with field width as the number of bits.
442 Flags bitfields such as page flags, gfp_flags
443 ---------------------------------------------
447 %pGp referenced|uptodate|lru|active|private
448 %pGg GFP_USER|GFP_DMA32|GFP_NOWARN
449 %pGv read|exec|mayread|maywrite|mayexec|denywrite
451 For printing flags bitfields as a collection of symbolic constants that
452 would construct the value. The type of flags is given by the third
453 character. Currently supported are [p]age flags, [v]ma_flags (both
454 expect ``unsigned long *``) and [g]fp_flags (expects ``gfp_t *``). The flag
455 names and print order depends on the particular type.
457 Note that this format should not be used directly in the
458 :c:func:`TP_printk()` part of a tracepoint. Instead, use the show_*_flags()
459 functions from <trace/events/mmflags.h>.
463 Network device features
464 -----------------------
468 %pNF 0x000000000000c000
470 For printing netdev_features_t.
477 If you add other %p extensions, please extend <lib/test_printf.c> with
478 one or more test cases, if at all feasible.
480 Thank you for your cooperation and attention.