Search code examples
csockets

How do I change a TCP socket to be non-blocking?

How do you make a socket non-blocking?

I am aware of the fcntl() function, but I've heard it's not always reliable.

Solution

  • What do you mean by "not always reliable"? If the system succeeds in setting your socket non non-blocking, it will be non-blocking. Socket operations will return EWOULDBLOCK if they would block need to block (e.g. if the output buffer is full and you're calling send/write too often).

    This forum thread has a few good points when working with non-blocking calls.