## GFileAttribute

GFileAttribute — Key-Value Paired File Attributes

## Synopsis

    #include <gio/gio.h>

    enum                GFileAttributeType;
    enum                GFileAttributeInfoFlags;
    enum                GFileAttributeStatus;
                        GFileAttributeInfo;
                        GFileAttributeInfoList;
    GFileAttributeInfoList * g_file_attribute_info_list_new (void);
    GFileAttributeInfoList * g_file_attribute_info_list_ref (GFileAttributeInfoList *list);
    void                g_file_attribute_info_list_unref    (GFileAttributeInfoList *list);
    GFileAttributeInfoList * g_file_attribute_info_list_dup (GFileAttributeInfoList *list);
    const GFileAttributeInfo * g_file_attribute_info_list_lookup
                                                            (GFileAttributeInfoList *list,
                                                             const char *name);
    void                g_file_attribute_info_list_add      (GFileAttributeInfoList *list,
                                                             const char *name,
                                                             GFileAttributeType type,
                                                             GFileAttributeInfoFlags flags);

## Description

File attributes in GIO consist of a list of key-value pairs.

Keys are strings that contain a key namespace and a key name, separated by a colon, e.g. "namespace:keyname". Namespaces are included to sort key-value pairs by namespaces for relevance. Keys can be retrived using wildcards, e.g. "standard::*" will return all of the keys in the "standard" namespace.

Values are stored within the list in GFileAttributeValue structures. Values can store different types, listed in the enum GFileAttributeType. Upon creation of a GFileAttributeValue, the type will be set to `G_FILE_ATTRIBUTE_TYPE_INVALID`.

The list of possible attributes for a filesystem (pointed to by a GFile) is availible as a GFileAttributeInfoList. This list is queryable by key names as indicated earlier.

Classes that implement GFileIface will create a GFileAttributeInfoList and install default keys and values for their given file system, architecture, and other possible implementation details (e.g., on a UNIX system, a file attribute key will be registered for the user id for a given file).

Table 1. GFileAttributes Default Namespaces

Namspace | Description
--- | ---
"standard" | The "Standard" namespace. General file information that any application may need should be put in this namespace. Examples include the file's name, type, and size.
"etag" | The "Entity Tag" namespace. Currently, the only key in this namespace is "value", which contains the value of the current entity tag.
"id" | The "Identification" namespace. This namespace is used by file managers and applications that list directories to check for loops and to uniquely identify files.
"access" | The "Access" namespace. Used to check if a user has the proper privilidges to access files and perform file operations. Keys in this namespace are made to be generic and easily understood, e.g. the "can_read" key is `TRUE` if the current user has permission to read the file. UNIX permissions and NTFS ACLs in Windows should be mapped to these values.
"mountable" | The "Mountable" namespace. Includes simple boolean keys for checking if a file or path supports mount operations, e.g. mount, unmount, eject. These are used for files of type `G_FILE_TYPE_MOUNTABLE`.
"time" | The "Time" namespace. Includes file access, changed, created times.
"unix" | The "Unix" namespace. Includes UNIX-specific information and may not be available for all files. Examples include the UNIX "UID", "GID", etc.
"dos" | The "DOS" namespace. Includes DOS-specific information and may not be available for all files. Examples include "is_system" for checking if a file is marked as a system file, and "is_archive" for checking if a file is marked as an archive file.
"owner" | The "Owner" namespace. Includes information about who owns a file. May not be available for all file systems. Examples include "user" for getting the user name of the file owner. This information is often mapped from some backend specific data such as a unix UID.
"thumbnail" | The "Thumbnail" namespace. Includes information about file thumbnails and their location within the file system. Exaples of keys in this namespace include "path" to get the location of a thumbnail, and "failed" to check if thumbnailing of the file failed.
"filesystem" | The "Filesystem" namespace. Gets information about the file system where a file is located, such as its type, how much space is left available, and the overall size of the file system.
"gvfs" | The "GVFS" namespace. Keys in this namespace contain information about the current GVFS backend in use.
"xattr" | The "xattr" namespace. Gets information about extended user attributes. See attr(5). The "user." prefix of the extended user attribute name is stripped away when constructing keys in this namespace, e.g. "xattr::mime_type" for the extended attribute with the name "user.mime_type". Note that this information is only available if GLib has been built with extended attribute support.
"xattr-sys" | The "xattr-sys" namespace. Gets information about extended attributes which are not user-specific. See attr(5). Note that this information is only available if GLib has been built with extended attribute support.
"selinux" | The "SELinux" namespace. Includes information about the SELinux context of files. Note that this information is only available if GLib has been built with SELinux support.

Please note that these are not all of the possible namespaces. More namespaces can be added from GIO modules or by individual applications. For more information about writing GIO modules, see GIOModule.

Table 2. GFileAttributes Built-in Keys and Value Types

Enum Value | Namespace:Key | Value Type
--- | --- | ---
`G_FILE_ATTRIBUTE_STANDARD_TYPE` | standard::type | uint32 (GFileType)
`G_FILE_ATTRIBUTE_STANDARD_IS_HIDDEN` | standard::is-hidden | boolean
`G_FILE_ATTRIBUTE_STANDARD_IS_BACKUP` | standard::is-backup | boolean
`G_FILE_ATTRIBUTE_STANDARD_IS_SYMLINK` | standard::is-symlink | boolean
`G_FILE_ATTRIBUTE_STANDARD_IS_VIRTUAL` | standard::is-virtual | boolean
`G_FILE_ATTRIBUTE_STANDARD_NAME` | standard::name | byte string
`G_FILE_ATTRIBUTE_STANDARD_DISPLAY_NAME` | standard::display-name | string
`G_FILE_ATTRIBUTE_STANDARD_EDIT_NAME` | standard::edit-name | string
`G_FILE_ATTRIBUTE_STANDARD_ICON` | standard::icon | object (GIcon)
`G_FILE_ATTRIBUTE_STANDARD_CONTENT_TYPE` | standard::content-type | string
`G_FILE_ATTRIBUTE_STANDARD_FAST_CONTENT_TYPE` | standard::fast-content-type | string
`G_FILE_ATTRIBUTE_STANDARD_SIZE` | standard::size | uint64
`G_FILE_ATTRIBUTE_STANDARD_SYMLINK_TARGET` | standard::symlink-target | byte string
`G_FILE_ATTRIBUTE_STANDARD_TARGET_URI` | standard::target-uri | string
`G_FILE_ATTRIBUTE_STANDARD_SORT_ORDER` | standard::sort-order | int32
`G_FILE_ATTRIBUTE_ETAG_VALUE` | etag::value | string
`G_FILE_ATTRIBUTE_ID_FILE` | id::file | string
`G_FILE_ATTRIBUTE_ID_FILESYSTEM` | id::filesystem | string
`G_FILE_ATTRIBUTE_ACCESS_CAN_READ` | access::can-read | boolean
`G_FILE_ATTRIBUTE_ACCESS_CAN_WRITE` | access::can-write | boolean
`G_FILE_ATTRIBUTE_ACCESS_CAN_EXECUTE` | access::can-execute | boolean
`G_FILE_ATTRIBUTE_ACCESS_CAN_DELETE` | access::can-delete | boolean
`G_FILE_ATTRIBUTE_ACCESS_CAN_TRASH` | access::can-trash | boolean
`G_FILE_ATTRIBUTE_ACCESS_CAN_RENAME` | access::can-rename | boolean
`G_FILE_ATTRIBUTE_MOUNTABLE_CAN_MOUNT` | mountable::can-mount | boolean
`G_FILE_ATTRIBUTE_MOUNTABLE_CAN_UNMOUNT` | mountable::can-unmount | boolean
`G_FILE_ATTRIBUTE_MOUNTABLE_CAN_EJECT` | mountable::can-eject | boolean
`G_FILE_ATTRIBUTE_MOUNTABLE_UNIX_DEVICE` | mountable::unix-device | uint32
`G_FILE_ATTRIBUTE_MOUNTABLE_HAL_UDI` | mountable::hal-udi | string
`G_FILE_ATTRIBUTE_TIME_MODIFIED` | time::modified | uint64
`G_FILE_ATTRIBUTE_TIME_MODIFIED_USEC` | time::modified-usec | uint32
`G_FILE_ATTRIBUTE_TIME_ACCESS` | time::access | uint64
`G_FILE_ATTRIBUTE_TIME_ACCESS_USEC` | time::access-usec | uint32
`G_FILE_ATTRIBUTE_TIME_CHANGED` | time::changed | uint64
`G_FILE_ATTRIBUTE_TIME_CHANGED_USEC` | time::changed-usec | uint32
`G_FILE_ATTRIBUTE_TIME_CREATED` | time::created | uint64
`G_FILE_ATTRIBUTE_TIME_CREATED_USEC` | time::created-usec | uint32
`G_FILE_ATTRIBUTE_UNIX_DEVICE` | unix::device | uint32
`G_FILE_ATTRIBUTE_UNIX_INODE` | unix::inode | uint64
`G_FILE_ATTRIBUTE_UNIX_MODE` | unix::mode | uint32
`G_FILE_ATTRIBUTE_UNIX_NLINK` | unix::nlink | uint32
`G_FILE_ATTRIBUTE_UNIX_UID` | unix::uid | uint32
`G_FILE_ATTRIBUTE_UNIX_GID` | unix::gid | uint32
`G_FILE_ATTRIBUTE_UNIX_RDEV` | unix::rdev | uint32
`G_FILE_ATTRIBUTE_UNIX_BLOCK_SIZE` | unix::block-size | uint32
`G_FILE_ATTRIBUTE_UNIX_BLOCKS` | unix::blocks | uint64
`G_FILE_ATTRIBUTE_UNIX_IS_MOUNTPOINT` | unix::is-mountpoint | boolean
`G_FILE_ATTRIBUTE_DOS_IS_ARCHIVE` | dos::is-archive | boolean
`G_FILE_ATTRIBUTE_DOS_IS_SYSTEM` | dos::is-system | boolean
`G_FILE_ATTRIBUTE_OWNER_USER` | owner::user | string
`G_FILE_ATTRIBUTE_OWNER_USER_REAL` | owner::user-real | string
`G_FILE_ATTRIBUTE_OWNER_GROUP` | owner::group | string
`G_FILE_ATTRIBUTE_THUMBNAIL_PATH` | thumbnail::path | bytestring
`G_FILE_ATTRIBUTE_THUMBNAILING_FAILED` | thumbnail::failed | boolean
`G_FILE_ATTRIBUTE_FILESYSTEM_SIZE` | filesystem::size | uint64
`G_FILE_ATTRIBUTE_FILESYSTEM_FREE` | filesystem::free | uint64
`G_FILE_ATTRIBUTE_FILESYSTEM_TYPE` | filesystem::type | string
`G_FILE_ATTRIBUTE_FILESYSTEM_READONLY` | filesystem::readonly | boolean
`G_FILE_ATTRIBUTE_GVFS_BACKEND` | gvfs::backend | string
`G_FILE_ATTRIBUTE_SELINUX_CONTEXT` | selinux::context | string

Note that there are no predefined keys in the "xattr" and "xattr-sys" namespaces. Keys for the "xattr" namespace are constructed by stripping away the "user." prefix from the extended user attribute, and prepending "xattr::". Keys for the "xattr-sys" namespace are constructed by concatenating "xattr-sys::" with the extended attribute name. All extended attribute values are returned as hex-encoded strings in which bytes outside the ASCII range are encoded as hexadecimal escape sequences of the form \x`nn`.

## Details

### enum GFileAttributeType

    typedef enum {
      G_FILE_ATTRIBUTE_TYPE_INVALID = 0,
      G_FILE_ATTRIBUTE_TYPE_STRING,
      G_FILE_ATTRIBUTE_TYPE_BYTE_STRING, /* zero terminated string of non-zero bytes */
      G_FILE_ATTRIBUTE_TYPE_BOOLEAN,
      G_FILE_ATTRIBUTE_TYPE_UINT32,
      G_FILE_ATTRIBUTE_TYPE_INT32,
      G_FILE_ATTRIBUTE_TYPE_UINT64,
      G_FILE_ATTRIBUTE_TYPE_INT64,
      G_FILE_ATTRIBUTE_TYPE_OBJECT
    } GFileAttributeType;

The data types for file attributes.

`G_FILE_ATTRIBUTE_TYPE_INVALID` | indicates an invalid or uninitalized type.
`G_FILE_ATTRIBUTE_TYPE_STRING` | a null terminated UTF8 string.
`G_FILE_ATTRIBUTE_TYPE_BYTE_STRING` | a zero terminated string of non-zero bytes.
`G_FILE_ATTRIBUTE_TYPE_BOOLEAN` | a boolean value.
`G_FILE_ATTRIBUTE_TYPE_UINT32` | an unsigned 4-byte/32-bit integer.
`G_FILE_ATTRIBUTE_TYPE_INT32` | a signed 4-byte/32-bit integer.
`G_FILE_ATTRIBUTE_TYPE_UINT64` | an unsigned 8-byte/64-bit integer.
`G_FILE_ATTRIBUTE_TYPE_INT64` | a signed 8-byte/64-bit integer.
`G_FILE_ATTRIBUTE_TYPE_OBJECT` | a GObject.

### enum GFileAttributeInfoFlags

    typedef enum {
      G_FILE_ATTRIBUTE_INFO_NONE            = 0,
      G_FILE_ATTRIBUTE_INFO_COPY_WITH_FILE  = (1 << 0),
      G_FILE_ATTRIBUTE_INFO_COPY_WHEN_MOVED = (1 << 1)
    } GFileAttributeInfoFlags;

Flags specifying the behaviour of an attribute.

`G_FILE_ATTRIBUTE_INFO_NONE` | no flags set.
`G_FILE_ATTRIBUTE_INFO_COPY_WITH_FILE` | copy the attribute values when the file is copied.
`G_FILE_ATTRIBUTE_INFO_COPY_WHEN_MOVED` | copy the attribute values when the file is moved.

### enum GFileAttributeStatus

    typedef enum {
      G_FILE_ATTRIBUTE_STATUS_UNSET = 0,
      G_FILE_ATTRIBUTE_STATUS_SET,
      G_FILE_ATTRIBUTE_STATUS_ERROR_SETTING
    } GFileAttributeStatus;

Used by `g_file_set_attributes_from_info()` when setting file attributes.

`G_FILE_ATTRIBUTE_STATUS_UNSET` | Attribute value is unset (empty).
`G_FILE_ATTRIBUTE_STATUS_SET` | Attribute value is set.
`G_FILE_ATTRIBUTE_STATUS_ERROR_SETTING` | Indicates an error in setting the value.

### GFileAttributeInfo

    typedef struct {
      char                    *name;
      GFileAttributeType       type;
      GFileAttributeInfoFlags  flags;
    } GFileAttributeInfo;

Information about a specific attribute.

char *`name`; | the name of the attribute.
GFileAttributeType `type`; | the GFileAttributeType type of the attribute.
GFileAttributeInfoFlags `flags`; | a set of GFileAttributeInfoFlags.

### GFileAttributeInfoList

    typedef struct {
      GFileAttributeInfo *infos;
      int                 n_infos;
    } GFileAttributeInfoList;

Acts as a lightweight registry for possible valid file attributes. The registry stores Key-Value pair formats as GFileAttributeInfos.

GFileAttributeInfo *`infos`; | an array of GFileAttributeInfos.
int `n_infos`; | the number of values in the array.

### g_file_attribute_info_list_new ()

    GFileAttributeInfoList * g_file_attribute_info_list_new (void);

Creates a new file attribute info list.

Returns : | a GFileAttributeInfoList.

### g_file_attribute_info_list_ref ()

    GFileAttributeInfoList * g_file_attribute_info_list_ref (GFileAttributeInfoList *list);

References a file attribute info list.

`list` : | a GFileAttributeInfoList to reference.
Returns : | GFileAttributeInfoList or `NULL` on error.

### g_file_attribute_info_list_unref ()

    void                g_file_attribute_info_list_unref    (GFileAttributeInfoList *list);

Removes a reference from the given `list`. If the reference count falls to zero, the `list` is deleted.

`list` : | The GFileAttributeInfoList to unreference.

### g_file_attribute_info_list_dup ()

    GFileAttributeInfoList * g_file_attribute_info_list_dup (GFileAttributeInfoList *list);

Makes a duplicate of a file attribute info list.

`list` : | a GFileAttributeInfoList to duplicate.
Returns : | a copy of the given `list`.

### g_file_attribute_info_list_lookup ()

    const GFileAttributeInfo * g_file_attribute_info_list_lookup
                                                            (GFileAttributeInfoList *list,
                                                             const char *name);

Gets the file attribute with the name `name` from `list`.

`list` : | a GFileAttributeInfoList.
`name` : | the name of the attribute to lookup.
Returns : | a GFileAttributeInfo for the `name`, or `NULL` if an attribute isn't found.

### g_file_attribute_info_list_add ()

    void                g_file_attribute_info_list_add      (GFileAttributeInfoList *list,
                                                             const char *name,
                                                             GFileAttributeType type,
                                                             GFileAttributeInfoFlags flags);

Adds a new attribute with `name` to the `list`, setting its `type` and `flags`.

`list` : | a GFileAttributeInfoList.
`name` : | the name of the attribute to add.
`type` : | the GFileAttributeType for the attribute.
`flags` : | GFileAttributeInfoFlags for the attribute.

## See Also

#GFile, GFileInfo