(libc.info.gz) Kinds of Signals

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(libc.info.gz) Concepts of Signals

(libc.info.gz) Signal Generation

 
 24.1.1 Some Kinds of Signals
 ----------------------------
 
 A signal reports the occurrence of an exceptional event.  These are some
 of the events that can cause (or "generate", or "raise") a signal:
 
    * A program error such as dividing by zero or issuing an address
      outside the valid range.
 
    * A user request to interrupt or terminate the program.  Most
      environments are set up to let a user suspend the program by
      typing `C-z', or terminate it with `C-c'.  Whatever key sequence
      is used, the operating system sends the proper signal to interrupt
      the process.
 
    * The termination of a child process.
 
    * Expiration of a timer or alarm.
 
    * A call to `kill' or `raise' by the same process.
 
    * A call to `kill' from another process.  Signals are a limited but
      useful form of interprocess communication.
 
    * An attempt to perform an I/O operation that cannot be done.
      Examples are reading from a pipe that has no writer ( Pipes
      and FIFOs), and reading or writing to a terminal in certain
      situations ( Job Control).
 
    Each of these kinds of events (excepting explicit calls to `kill'
 and `raise') generates its own particular kind of signal.  The various
 kinds of signals are listed and described in detail in  Standard
 Signals.
 

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(libc.info.gz) Concepts of Signals

(libc.info.gz) Signal Generation