1 .. SPDX-License-Identifier: GFDL-1.1-no-invariants-or-later
13 VIDIOC_REQBUFS - Initiate Memory Mapping, User Pointer I/O or DMA buffer I/O
18 .. c:macro:: VIDIOC_REQBUFS
20 ``int ioctl(int fd, VIDIOC_REQBUFS, struct v4l2_requestbuffers *argp)``
26 File descriptor returned by :c:func:`open()`.
29 Pointer to struct :c:type:`v4l2_requestbuffers`.
34 This ioctl is used to initiate :ref:`memory mapped <mmap>`,
35 :ref:`user pointer <userp>` or :ref:`DMABUF <dmabuf>` based I/O.
36 Memory mapped buffers are located in device memory and must be allocated
37 with this ioctl before they can be mapped into the application's address
38 space. User buffers are allocated by applications themselves, and this
39 ioctl is merely used to switch the driver into user pointer I/O mode and
40 to setup some internal structures. Similarly, DMABUF buffers are
41 allocated by applications through a device driver, and this ioctl only
42 configures the driver into DMABUF I/O mode without performing any direct
45 To allocate device buffers applications initialize all fields of the
46 struct :c:type:`v4l2_requestbuffers` structure. They set the ``type``
47 field to the respective stream or buffer type, the ``count`` field to
48 the desired number of buffers, ``memory`` must be set to the requested
49 I/O method and the ``reserved`` array must be zeroed. When the ioctl is
50 called with a pointer to this structure the driver will attempt to
51 allocate the requested number of buffers and it stores the actual number
52 allocated in the ``count`` field. It can be smaller than the number
53 requested, even zero, when the driver runs out of free memory. A larger
54 number is also possible when the driver requires more buffers to
55 function correctly. For example video output requires at least two
56 buffers, one displayed and one filled by the application.
58 When the I/O method is not supported the ioctl returns an ``EINVAL`` error
61 Applications can call :ref:`VIDIOC_REQBUFS` again to change the number of
62 buffers. Note that if any buffers are still mapped or exported via DMABUF,
63 then :ref:`VIDIOC_REQBUFS` can only succeed if the
64 ``V4L2_BUF_CAP_SUPPORTS_ORPHANED_BUFS`` capability is set. Otherwise
65 :ref:`VIDIOC_REQBUFS` will return the ``EBUSY`` error code.
66 If ``V4L2_BUF_CAP_SUPPORTS_ORPHANED_BUFS`` is set, then these buffers are
67 orphaned and will be freed when they are unmapped or when the exported DMABUF
68 fds are closed. A ``count`` value of zero frees or orphans all buffers, after
69 aborting or finishing any DMA in progress, an implicit
70 :ref:`VIDIOC_STREAMOFF <VIDIOC_STREAMON>`.
72 .. c:type:: v4l2_requestbuffers
74 .. tabularcolumns:: |p{4.4cm}|p{4.4cm}|p{8.7cm}|
76 .. flat-table:: struct v4l2_requestbuffers
83 - The number of buffers requested or granted.
86 - Type of the stream or buffers, this is the same as the struct
87 :c:type:`v4l2_format` ``type`` field. See
88 :c:type:`v4l2_buf_type` for valid values.
91 - Applications set this field to ``V4L2_MEMORY_MMAP``,
92 ``V4L2_MEMORY_DMABUF`` or ``V4L2_MEMORY_USERPTR``. See
93 :c:type:`v4l2_memory`.
96 - Set by the driver. If 0, then the driver doesn't support
97 capabilities. In that case all you know is that the driver is
98 guaranteed to support ``V4L2_MEMORY_MMAP`` and *might* support
99 other :c:type:`v4l2_memory` types. It will not support any other
102 If you want to query the capabilities with a minimum of side-effects,
103 then this can be called with ``count`` set to 0, ``memory`` set to
104 ``V4L2_MEMORY_MMAP`` and ``type`` set to the buffer type. This will
105 free any previously allocated buffers, so this is typically something
106 that will be done at the start of the application.
109 - A place holder for future extensions. Drivers and applications
110 must set the array to zero.
112 .. tabularcolumns:: |p{6.1cm}|p{2.2cm}|p{8.7cm}|
114 .. _v4l2-buf-capabilities:
115 .. _V4L2-BUF-CAP-SUPPORTS-MMAP:
116 .. _V4L2-BUF-CAP-SUPPORTS-USERPTR:
117 .. _V4L2-BUF-CAP-SUPPORTS-DMABUF:
118 .. _V4L2-BUF-CAP-SUPPORTS-REQUESTS:
119 .. _V4L2-BUF-CAP-SUPPORTS-ORPHANED-BUFS:
120 .. _V4L2-BUF-CAP-SUPPORTS-M2M-HOLD-CAPTURE-BUF:
121 .. _V4L2-BUF-CAP-SUPPORTS-MMAP-CACHE-HINTS:
123 .. cssclass:: longtable
125 .. flat-table:: V4L2 Buffer Capabilities Flags
130 * - ``V4L2_BUF_CAP_SUPPORTS_MMAP``
132 - This buffer type supports the ``V4L2_MEMORY_MMAP`` streaming mode.
133 * - ``V4L2_BUF_CAP_SUPPORTS_USERPTR``
135 - This buffer type supports the ``V4L2_MEMORY_USERPTR`` streaming mode.
136 * - ``V4L2_BUF_CAP_SUPPORTS_DMABUF``
138 - This buffer type supports the ``V4L2_MEMORY_DMABUF`` streaming mode.
139 * - ``V4L2_BUF_CAP_SUPPORTS_REQUESTS``
141 - This buffer type supports :ref:`requests <media-request-api>`.
142 * - ``V4L2_BUF_CAP_SUPPORTS_ORPHANED_BUFS``
144 - The kernel allows calling :ref:`VIDIOC_REQBUFS` while buffers are still
145 mapped or exported via DMABUF. These orphaned buffers will be freed
146 when they are unmapped or when the exported DMABUF fds are closed.
147 * - ``V4L2_BUF_CAP_SUPPORTS_M2M_HOLD_CAPTURE_BUF``
149 - Only valid for stateless decoders. If set, then userspace can set the
150 ``V4L2_BUF_FLAG_M2M_HOLD_CAPTURE_BUF`` flag to hold off on returning the
151 capture buffer until the OUTPUT timestamp changes.
152 * - ``V4L2_BUF_CAP_SUPPORTS_MMAP_CACHE_HINTS``
154 - This capability is set by the driver to indicate that the queue supports
155 cache and memory management hints. However, it's only valid when the
156 queue is used for :ref:`memory mapping <mmap>` streaming I/O. See
157 :ref:`V4L2_BUF_FLAG_NO_CACHE_INVALIDATE <V4L2-BUF-FLAG-NO-CACHE-INVALIDATE>` and
158 :ref:`V4L2_BUF_FLAG_NO_CACHE_CLEAN <V4L2-BUF-FLAG-NO-CACHE-CLEAN>`.
163 On success 0 is returned, on error -1 and the ``errno`` variable is set
164 appropriately. The generic error codes are described at the
165 :ref:`Generic Error Codes <gen-errors>` chapter.
168 The buffer type (``type`` field) or the requested I/O method
169 (``memory``) is not supported.