.. SPDX-License-Identifier: GFDL-1.1-no-invariants-or-later .. c:namespace:: V4L

.. _buffer:

Buffers

A buffer contains data exchanged by application and driver using one of the Streaming I/O methods. In the multi-planar API, the data is held in planes, while the buffer structure acts as a container for the planes. Only pointers to buffers (planes) are exchanged, the data itself is not copied. These pointers, together with meta-information like timestamps or field parity, are stored in a struct :c:type:v4l2_buffer, argument to the :ref:VIDIOC_QUERYBUF, :ref:VIDIOC_QBUF <VIDIOC_QBUF> and :ref:VIDIOC_DQBUF <VIDIOC_QBUF> ioctl. In the multi-planar API, some plane-specific members of struct :c:type:v4l2_buffer, such as pointers and sizes for each plane, are stored in struct :c:type:v4l2_plane instead. In that case, struct :c:type:v4l2_buffer contains an array of plane structures.

Dequeued video buffers come with timestamps. The driver decides at which part of the frame and with which clock the timestamp is taken. Please see flags in the masks V4L2_BUF_FLAG_TIMESTAMP_MASK and V4L2_BUF_FLAG_TSTAMP_SRC_MASK in :ref:buffer-flags. These flags are always valid and constant across all buffers during the whole video stream. Changes in these flags may take place as a side effect of :ref:VIDIOC_S_INPUT <VIDIOC_G_INPUT> or :ref:VIDIOC_S_OUTPUT <VIDIOC_G_OUTPUT> however. The V4L2_BUF_FLAG_TIMESTAMP_COPY timestamp type which is used by e.g. on mem-to-mem devices is an exception to the rule: the timestamp source flags are copied from the OUTPUT video buffer to the CAPTURE video buffer.

Interactions between formats, controls and buffers

V4L2 exposes parameters that influence the buffer size, or the way data is laid out in the buffer. Those parameters are exposed through both formats and controls. One example of such a control is the V4L2_CID_ROTATE control that modifies the direction in which pixels are stored in the buffer, as well as the buffer size when the selected format includes padding at the end of lines.

The set of information needed to interpret the content of a buffer (e.g. the pixel format, the line stride, the tiling orientation or the rotation) is collectively referred to in the rest of this section as the buffer layout.

Controls that can modify the buffer layout shall set the V4L2_CTRL_FLAG_MODIFY_LAYOUT flag.

Modifying formats or controls that influence the buffer size or layout require the stream to be stopped. Any attempt at such a modification while the stream is active shall cause the ioctl setting the format or the control to return the EBUSY error code. In that case drivers shall also set the V4L2_CTRL_FLAG_GRABBED flag when calling :c:func:VIDIOC_QUERYCTRL or :c:func:VIDIOC_QUERY_EXT_CTRL for such a control while the stream is active.

.. note::

The :c:func:VIDIOC_S_SELECTION ioctl can, depending on the hardware (for instance if the device doesn't include a scaler), modify the format in addition to the selection rectangle. Similarly, the :c:func:VIDIOC_S_INPUT, :c:func:VIDIOC_S_OUTPUT, :c:func:VIDIOC_S_STD and :c:func:VIDIOC_S_DV_TIMINGS ioctls can also modify the format and selection rectangles. When those ioctls result in a buffer size or layout change, drivers shall handle that condition as they would handle it in the :c:func:VIDIOC_S_FMT ioctl in all cases described in this section.

Controls that only influence the buffer layout can be modified at any time when the stream is stopped. As they don't influence the buffer size, no special handling is needed to synchronize those controls with buffer allocation and the V4L2_CTRL_FLAG_GRABBED flag is cleared once the stream is stopped.

Formats and controls that influence the buffer size interact with buffer allocation. The simplest way to handle this is for drivers to always require buffers to be reallocated in order to change those formats or controls. In that case, to perform such changes, userspace applications shall first stop the video stream with the :c:func:VIDIOC_STREAMOFF ioctl if it is running and free all buffers with the :c:func:VIDIOC_REQBUFS ioctl if they are allocated. After freeing all buffers the V4L2_CTRL_FLAG_GRABBED flag for controls is cleared. The format or controls can then be modified, and buffers shall then be reallocated and the stream restarted. A typical ioctl sequence is

#. VIDIOC_STREAMOFF #. VIDIOC_REQBUFS(0) #. VIDIOC_S_EXT_CTRLS #. VIDIOC_S_FMT #. VIDIOC_REQBUFS(n) #. VIDIOC_QBUF #. VIDIOC_STREAMON

The second :c:func:VIDIOC_REQBUFS call will take the new format and control value into account to compute the buffer size to allocate. Applications can also retrieve the size by calling the :c:func:VIDIOC_G_FMT ioctl if needed.

.. note::

The API doesn't mandate the above order for control (3.) and format (4.) changes. Format and controls can be set in a different order, or even interleaved, depending on the device and use case. For instance some controls might behave differently for different pixel formats, in which case the format might need to be set first.

When reallocation is required, any attempt to modify format or controls that influences the buffer size while buffers are allocated shall cause the format or control set ioctl to return the EBUSY error. Any attempt to queue a buffer too small for the current format or controls shall cause the :c:func:VIDIOC_QBUF ioctl to return a EINVAL error.

Buffer reallocation is an expensive operation. To avoid that cost, drivers can (and are encouraged to) allow format or controls that influence the buffer size to be changed with buffers allocated. In that case, a typical ioctl sequence to modify format and controls is

#. VIDIOC_STREAMOFF #. VIDIOC_S_EXT_CTRLS #. VIDIOC_S_FMT #. VIDIOC_QBUF #. VIDIOC_STREAMON

For this sequence to operate correctly, queued buffers need to be large enough for the new format or controls. Drivers shall return a ENOSPC error in response to format change (:c:func:VIDIOC_S_FMT) or control changes (:c:func:VIDIOC_S_CTRL or :c:func:VIDIOC_S_EXT_CTRLS) if buffers too small for the new format are currently queued. As a simplification, drivers are allowed to return a EBUSY error from these ioctls if any buffer is currently queued, without checking the queued buffers sizes.

Additionally, drivers shall return a EINVAL error from the :c:func:VIDIOC_QBUF ioctl if the buffer being queued is too small for the current format or controls. Together, these requirements ensure that queued buffers will always be large enough for the configured format and controls.

Userspace applications can query the buffer size required for a given format and controls by first setting the desired control values and then trying the desired format. The :c:func:VIDIOC_TRY_FMT ioctl will return the required buffer size.

#. VIDIOC_S_EXT_CTRLS(x) #. VIDIOC_TRY_FMT() #. VIDIOC_S_EXT_CTRLS(y) #. VIDIOC_TRY_FMT()

The :c:func:VIDIOC_CREATE_BUFS ioctl can then be used to allocate buffers based on the queried sizes (for instance by allocating a set of buffers large enough for all the desired formats and controls, or by allocating separate set of appropriately sized buffers for each use case).

.. c:type:: v4l2_buffer

struct v4l2_buffer

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* - __u32
  - ``index``
  - Number of the buffer, set by the application except when calling
:ref:`VIDIOC_DQBUF <VIDIOC_QBUF>`, then it is set by the
driver. This field can range from zero to the number of buffers
allocated with the :ref:`VIDIOC_REQBUFS` ioctl
(struct :c:type:`v4l2_requestbuffers`
``count``), plus any buffers allocated with
:ref:`VIDIOC_CREATE_BUFS` minus one.
* - __u32
  - ``type``
  - Type of the buffer, same as struct
:c:type:`v4l2_format` ``type`` or struct
:c:type:`v4l2_requestbuffers` ``type``, set
by the application. See :c:type:`v4l2_buf_type`
* - __u32
  - ``bytesused``
  - The number of bytes occupied by the data in the buffer. It depends
on the negotiated data format and may change with each buffer for
compressed variable size data like JPEG images. Drivers must set
this field when ``type`` refers to a capture stream, applications
when it refers to an output stream. For multiplanar formats this field
    is ignored and the
``planes`` pointer is used instead.
* - __u32
  - ``flags``
  - Flags set by the application or driver, see :ref:`buffer-flags`.
* - __u32
  - ``field``
  - Indicates the field order of the image in the buffer, see
:c:type:`v4l2_field`. This field is not used when the buffer
contains VBI data. Drivers must set it when ``type`` refers to a
capture stream, applications when it refers to an output stream.
* - struct timeval
  - ``timestamp``
  - For capture streams this is time when the first data byte was
captured, as returned by the :c:func:`clock_gettime()` function
for the relevant clock id; see ``V4L2_BUF_FLAG_TIMESTAMP_*`` in
:ref:`buffer-flags`. For output streams the driver stores the
time at which the last data byte was actually sent out in the
``timestamp`` field. This permits applications to monitor the
drift between the video and system clock. For output streams that
use ``V4L2_BUF_FLAG_TIMESTAMP_COPY`` the application has to fill
in the timestamp which will be copied by the driver to the capture
stream.
* - struct :c:type:`v4l2_timecode`
  - ``timecode``
  - When the ``V4L2_BUF_FLAG_TIMECODE`` flag is set in ``flags``, this
structure contains a frame timecode. In
:c:type:`V4L2_FIELD_ALTERNATE <v4l2_field>` mode the top and
bottom field contain the same timecode. Timecodes are intended to
help video editing and are typically recorded on video tapes, but
also embedded in compressed formats like MPEG. This field is
independent of the ``timestamp`` and ``sequence`` fields.
* - __u32
  - ``sequence``
  - Set by the driver, counting the frames (not fields!) in sequence.
This field is set for both input and output devices.
* - :cspan:`2`

In :c:type:`V4L2_FIELD_ALTERNATE <v4l2_field>` mode the top and
bottom field have the same sequence number. The count starts at
zero and includes dropped or repeated frames. A dropped frame was
received by an input device but could not be stored due to lack of
free buffer space. A repeated frame was displayed again by an
output device because the application did not pass new data in
time.

.. note::

   This may count the frames received e.g. over USB, without
   taking into account the frames dropped by the remote hardware due
   to limited compression throughput or bus bandwidth. These devices
   identify by not enumerating any video standards, see
   :ref:`standard`.

* - __u32
  - ``memory``
  - This field must be set by applications and/or drivers in
accordance with the selected I/O method. See :c:type:`v4l2_memory`
* - union {
  - ``m``
* - __u32
  - ``offset``
  - For the single-planar API and when ``memory`` is
``V4L2_MEMORY_MMAP`` this is the offset of the buffer from the
start of the device memory. The value is returned by the driver
and apart of serving as parameter to the
:c:func:`mmap()` function not useful for applications.
See :ref:`mmap` for details
* - unsigned long
  - ``userptr``
  - For the single-planar API and when ``memory`` is
``V4L2_MEMORY_USERPTR`` this is a pointer to the buffer (casted to
unsigned long type) in virtual memory, set by the application. See
:ref:`userp` for details.
* - struct v4l2_plane
  - ``*planes``
  - When using the multi-planar API, contains a userspace pointer to
an array of struct :c:type:`v4l2_plane`. The size of
the array should be put in the ``length`` field of this
struct :c:type:`v4l2_buffer` structure.
* - int
  - ``fd``
  - For the single-plane API and when ``memory`` is
``V4L2_MEMORY_DMABUF`` this is the file descriptor associated with
a DMABUF buffer.
* - }
  -
* - __u32
  - ``length``
  - Size of the buffer (not the payload) in bytes for the
single-planar API. This is set by the driver based on the calls to
:ref:`VIDIOC_REQBUFS` and/or
:ref:`VIDIOC_CREATE_BUFS`. For the
multi-planar API the application sets this to the number of
elements in the ``planes`` array. The driver will fill in the
actual number of valid elements in that array.
* - __u32
  - ``reserved2``
  - A place holder for future extensions. Drivers and applications
must set this to 0.
* - __u32
  - ``request_fd``
  - The file descriptor of the request to queue the buffer to. If the flag
    ``V4L2_BUF_FLAG_REQUEST_FD`` is set, then the buffer will be
queued to this request. If the flag is not set, then this field will
be ignored.

The ``V4L2_BUF_FLAG_REQUEST_FD`` flag and this field are only used by
:ref:`ioctl VIDIOC_QBUF <VIDIOC_QBUF>` and ignored by other ioctls that
take a :c:type:`v4l2_buffer` as argument.

Applications should not set ``V4L2_BUF_FLAG_REQUEST_FD`` for any ioctls
other than :ref:`VIDIOC_QBUF <VIDIOC_QBUF>`.

If the device does not support requests, then ``EBADR`` will be returned.
If requests are supported but an invalid request file descriptor is
given, then ``EINVAL`` will be returned.

.. c:type:: v4l2_plane

struct v4l2_plane

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* - __u32
  - ``bytesused``
  - The number of bytes occupied by data in the plane (its payload).
Drivers must set this field when ``type`` refers to a capture
stream, applications when it refers to an output stream.

.. note::

   Note that the actual image data starts at ``data_offset``
   which may not be 0.
* - __u32
  - ``length``
  - Size in bytes of the plane (not its payload). This is set by the
driver based on the calls to
:ref:`VIDIOC_REQBUFS` and/or
:ref:`VIDIOC_CREATE_BUFS`.
* - union {
  - ``m``
* - __u32
  - ``mem_offset``
  - When the memory type in the containing struct
:c:type:`v4l2_buffer` is ``V4L2_MEMORY_MMAP``, this
is the value that should be passed to :c:func:`mmap()`,
similar to the ``offset`` field in struct
:c:type:`v4l2_buffer`.
* - unsigned long
  - ``userptr``
  - When the memory type in the containing struct
:c:type:`v4l2_buffer` is ``V4L2_MEMORY_USERPTR``,
this is a userspace pointer to the memory allocated for this plane
by an application.
* - int
  - ``fd``
  - When the memory type in the containing struct
:c:type:`v4l2_buffer` is ``V4L2_MEMORY_DMABUF``,
this is a file descriptor associated with a DMABUF buffer, similar
to the ``fd`` field in struct :c:type:`v4l2_buffer`.
* - }
  -
* - __u32
  - ``data_offset``
  - Offset in bytes to video data in the plane. Drivers must set this
field when ``type`` refers to a capture stream, applications when
it refers to an output stream.

.. note::

   That data_offset is included  in ``bytesused``. So the
   size of the image in the plane is ``bytesused``-``data_offset``
   at offset ``data_offset`` from the start of the plane.
* - __u32
  - ``reserved[11]``
  - Reserved for future use. Should be zeroed by drivers and
applications.

.. c:type:: v4l2_buf_type

enum v4l2_buf_type

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* - ``V4L2_BUF_TYPE_VIDEO_CAPTURE``
  - 1
  - Buffer of a single-planar video capture stream, see
:ref:`capture`.
* - ``V4L2_BUF_TYPE_VIDEO_CAPTURE_MPLANE``
  - 9
  - Buffer of a multi-planar video capture stream, see
:ref:`capture`.
* - ``V4L2_BUF_TYPE_VIDEO_OUTPUT``
  - 2
  - Buffer of a single-planar video output stream, see
:ref:`output`.
* - ``V4L2_BUF_TYPE_VIDEO_OUTPUT_MPLANE``
  - 10
  - Buffer of a multi-planar video output stream, see :ref:`output`.
* - ``V4L2_BUF_TYPE_VIDEO_OVERLAY``
  - 3
  - Buffer for video overlay, see :ref:`overlay`.
* - ``V4L2_BUF_TYPE_VBI_CAPTURE``
  - 4
  - Buffer of a raw VBI capture stream, see :ref:`raw-vbi`.
* - ``V4L2_BUF_TYPE_VBI_OUTPUT``
  - 5
  - Buffer of a raw VBI output stream, see :ref:`raw-vbi`.
* - ``V4L2_BUF_TYPE_SLICED_VBI_CAPTURE``
  - 6
  - Buffer of a sliced VBI capture stream, see :ref:`sliced`.
* - ``V4L2_BUF_TYPE_SLICED_VBI_OUTPUT``
  - 7
  - Buffer of a sliced VBI output stream, see :ref:`sliced`.
* - ``V4L2_BUF_TYPE_VIDEO_OUTPUT_OVERLAY``
  - 8
  - Buffer for video output overlay (OSD), see :ref:`osd`.
* - ``V4L2_BUF_TYPE_SDR_CAPTURE``
  - 11
  - Buffer for Software Defined Radio (SDR) capture stream, see
:ref:`sdr`.
* - ``V4L2_BUF_TYPE_SDR_OUTPUT``
  - 12
  - Buffer for Software Defined Radio (SDR) output stream, see
:ref:`sdr`.
* - ``V4L2_BUF_TYPE_META_CAPTURE``
  - 13
  - Buffer for metadata capture, see :ref:`metadata`.
* - ``V4L2_BUF_TYPE_META_OUTPUT``
  - 14
  - Buffer for metadata output, see :ref:`metadata`.

.. _buffer-flags:

Buffer Flags

.. raw:: latex

\footnotesize

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* .. _`V4L2-BUF-FLAG-MAPPED`:

  - ``V4L2_BUF_FLAG_MAPPED``
  - 0x00000001
  - The buffer resides in device memory and has been mapped into the
application's address space, see :ref:`mmap` for details.
Drivers set or clear this flag when the
:ref:`VIDIOC_QUERYBUF`,
:ref:`VIDIOC_QBUF` or
:ref:`VIDIOC_DQBUF <VIDIOC_QBUF>` ioctl is called. Set by the
driver.
* .. _`V4L2-BUF-FLAG-QUEUED`:

  - ``V4L2_BUF_FLAG_QUEUED``
  - 0x00000002
  - Internally drivers maintain two buffer queues, an incoming and
outgoing queue. When this flag is set, the buffer is currently on
the incoming queue. It automatically moves to the outgoing queue
after the buffer has been filled (capture devices) or displayed
(output devices). Drivers set or clear this flag when the
``VIDIOC_QUERYBUF`` ioctl is called. After (successful) calling
the ``VIDIOC_QBUF``\ ioctl it is always set and after
``VIDIOC_DQBUF`` always cleared.
* .. _`V4L2-BUF-FLAG-DONE`:

  - ``V4L2_BUF_FLAG_DONE``
  - 0x00000004
  - When this flag is set, the buffer is currently on the outgoing
queue, ready to be dequeued from the driver. Drivers set or clear
this flag when the ``VIDIOC_QUERYBUF`` ioctl is called. After
calling the ``VIDIOC_QBUF`` or ``VIDIOC_DQBUF`` it is always
cleared. Of course a buffer cannot be on both queues at the same
time, the ``V4L2_BUF_FLAG_QUEUED`` and ``V4L2_BUF_FLAG_DONE`` flag
are mutually exclusive. They can be both cleared however, then the
buffer is in "dequeued" state, in the application domain so to
say.
* .. _`V4L2-BUF-FLAG-ERROR`:

  - ``V4L2_BUF_FLAG_ERROR``
  - 0x00000040
  - When this flag is set, the buffer has been dequeued successfully,
although the data might have been corrupted. This is recoverable,
streaming may continue as normal and the buffer may be reused
normally. Drivers set this flag when the ``VIDIOC_DQBUF`` ioctl is
called.
* .. _`V4L2-BUF-FLAG-IN-REQUEST`:

  - ``V4L2_BUF_FLAG_IN_REQUEST``
  - 0x00000080
  - This buffer is part of a request that hasn't been queued yet.
* .. _`V4L2-BUF-FLAG-KEYFRAME`:

  - ``V4L2_BUF_FLAG_KEYFRAME``
  - 0x00000008
  - Drivers set or clear this flag when calling the ``VIDIOC_DQBUF``
ioctl. It may be set by video capture devices when the buffer
contains a compressed image which is a key frame (or field), i. e.
can be decompressed on its own. Also known as an I-frame.
Applications can set this bit when ``type`` refers to an output
stream.
* .. _`V4L2-BUF-FLAG-PFRAME`:

  - ``V4L2_BUF_FLAG_PFRAME``
  - 0x00000010
  - Similar to ``V4L2_BUF_FLAG_KEYFRAME`` this flags predicted frames
or fields which contain only differences to a previous key frame.
Applications can set this bit when ``type`` refers to an output
stream.
* .. _`V4L2-BUF-FLAG-BFRAME`:

  - ``V4L2_BUF_FLAG_BFRAME``
  - 0x00000020
  - Similar to ``V4L2_BUF_FLAG_KEYFRAME`` this flags a bi-directional
predicted frame or field which contains only the differences
between the current frame and both the preceding and following key
frames to specify its content. Applications can set this bit when
``type`` refers to an output stream.
* .. _`V4L2-BUF-FLAG-TIMECODE`:

  - ``V4L2_BUF_FLAG_TIMECODE``
  - 0x00000100
  - The ``timecode`` field is valid. Drivers set or clear this flag
when the ``VIDIOC_DQBUF`` ioctl is called. Applications can set
this bit and the corresponding ``timecode`` structure when
``type`` refers to an output stream.
* .. _`V4L2-BUF-FLAG-PREPARED`:

  - ``V4L2_BUF_FLAG_PREPARED``
  - 0x00000400
  - The buffer has been prepared for I/O and can be queued by the
application. Drivers set or clear this flag when the
:ref:`VIDIOC_QUERYBUF <VIDIOC_QUERYBUF>`,
:ref:`VIDIOC_PREPARE_BUF <VIDIOC_QBUF>`,
:ref:`VIDIOC_QBUF <VIDIOC_QBUF>` or
:ref:`VIDIOC_DQBUF <VIDIOC_QBUF>` ioctl is called.
* .. _`V4L2-BUF-FLAG-NO-CACHE-INVALIDATE`:

  - ``V4L2_BUF_FLAG_NO_CACHE_INVALIDATE``
  - 0x00000800
  - Caches do not have to be invalidated for this buffer. Typically
applications shall use this flag if the data captured in the
buffer is not going to be touched by the CPU, instead the buffer
will, probably, be passed on to a DMA-capable hardware unit for
further processing or output. This flag is ignored unless the
queue is used for :ref:`memory mapping <mmap>` streaming I/O and
reports :ref:`V4L2_BUF_CAP_SUPPORTS_MMAP_CACHE_HINTS
<V4L2-BUF-CAP-SUPPORTS-MMAP-CACHE-HINTS>` capability.
* .. _`V4L2-BUF-FLAG-NO-CACHE-CLEAN`:

  - ``V4L2_BUF_FLAG_NO_CACHE_CLEAN``
  - 0x00001000
  - Caches do not have to be cleaned for this buffer. Typically
applications shall use this flag for output buffers if the data in
this buffer has not been created by the CPU but by some
DMA-capable unit, in which case caches have not been used. This flag
is ignored unless the queue is used for :ref:`memory mapping <mmap>`
streaming I/O and reports :ref:`V4L2_BUF_CAP_SUPPORTS_MMAP_CACHE_HINTS
<V4L2-BUF-CAP-SUPPORTS-MMAP-CACHE-HINTS>` capability.
* .. _`V4L2-BUF-FLAG-M2M-HOLD-CAPTURE-BUF`:

  - ``V4L2_BUF_FLAG_M2M_HOLD_CAPTURE_BUF``
  - 0x00000200
  - Only valid if struct :c:type:`v4l2_requestbuffers` flag ``V4L2_BUF_CAP_SUPPORTS_M2M_HOLD_CAPTURE_BUF`` is
set. It is typically used with stateless decoders where multiple
output buffers each decode to a slice of the decoded frame.
Applications can set this flag when queueing the output buffer
to prevent the driver from dequeueing the capture buffer after
the output buffer has been decoded (i.e. the capture buffer is
'held'). If the timestamp of this output buffer differs from that
of the previous output buffer, then that indicates the start of a
new frame and the previously held capture buffer is dequeued.
* .. _`V4L2-BUF-FLAG-LAST`:

  - ``V4L2_BUF_FLAG_LAST``
  - 0x00100000
  - Last buffer produced by the hardware. mem2mem codec drivers set
this flag on the capture queue for the last buffer when the
:ref:`VIDIOC_QUERYBUF` or
:ref:`VIDIOC_DQBUF <VIDIOC_QBUF>` ioctl is called. Due to
hardware limitations, the last buffer may be empty. In this case
the driver will set the ``bytesused`` field to 0, regardless of
the format. Any subsequent call to the
:ref:`VIDIOC_DQBUF <VIDIOC_QBUF>` ioctl will not block anymore,
but return an ``EPIPE`` error code.
* .. _`V4L2-BUF-FLAG-REQUEST-FD`:

  - ``V4L2_BUF_FLAG_REQUEST_FD``
  - 0x00800000
  - The ``request_fd`` field contains a valid file descriptor.
* .. _`V4L2-BUF-FLAG-TIMESTAMP-MASK`:

  - ``V4L2_BUF_FLAG_TIMESTAMP_MASK``
  - 0x0000e000
  - Mask for timestamp types below. To test the timestamp type, mask
out bits not belonging to timestamp type by performing a logical
and operation with buffer flags and timestamp mask.
* .. _`V4L2-BUF-FLAG-TIMESTAMP-UNKNOWN`:

  - ``V4L2_BUF_FLAG_TIMESTAMP_UNKNOWN``
  - 0x00000000
  - Unknown timestamp type. This type is used by drivers before Linux
3.9 and may be either monotonic (see below) or realtime (wall
clock). Monotonic clock has been favoured in embedded systems
whereas most of the drivers use the realtime clock. Either kinds
of timestamps are available in user space via
:c:func:`clock_gettime` using clock IDs ``CLOCK_MONOTONIC``
and ``CLOCK_REALTIME``, respectively.
* .. _`V4L2-BUF-FLAG-TIMESTAMP-MONOTONIC`:

  - ``V4L2_BUF_FLAG_TIMESTAMP_MONOTONIC``
  - 0x00002000
  - The buffer timestamp has been taken from the ``CLOCK_MONOTONIC``
clock. To access the same clock outside V4L2, use
:c:func:`clock_gettime`.
* .. _`V4L2-BUF-FLAG-TIMESTAMP-COPY`:

  - ``V4L2_BUF_FLAG_TIMESTAMP_COPY``
  - 0x00004000
  - The CAPTURE buffer timestamp has been taken from the corresponding
OUTPUT buffer. This flag applies only to mem2mem devices.
* .. _`V4L2-BUF-FLAG-TSTAMP-SRC-MASK`:

  - ``V4L2_BUF_FLAG_TSTAMP_SRC_MASK``
  - 0x00070000
  - Mask for timestamp sources below. The timestamp source defines the
point of time the timestamp is taken in relation to the frame.
Logical 'and' operation between the ``flags`` field and
``V4L2_BUF_FLAG_TSTAMP_SRC_MASK`` produces the value of the
timestamp source. Applications must set the timestamp source when
``type`` refers to an output stream and
``V4L2_BUF_FLAG_TIMESTAMP_COPY`` is set.
* .. _`V4L2-BUF-FLAG-TSTAMP-SRC-EOF`:

  - ``V4L2_BUF_FLAG_TSTAMP_SRC_EOF``
  - 0x00000000
  - End Of Frame. The buffer timestamp has been taken when the last
pixel of the frame has been received or the last pixel of the
frame has been transmitted. In practice, software generated
timestamps will typically be read from the clock a small amount of
time after the last pixel has been received or transmitten,
depending on the system and other activity in it.
* .. _`V4L2-BUF-FLAG-TSTAMP-SRC-SOE`:

  - ``V4L2_BUF_FLAG_TSTAMP_SRC_SOE``
  - 0x00010000
  - Start Of Exposure. The buffer timestamp has been taken when the
exposure of the frame has begun. This is only valid for the
``V4L2_BUF_TYPE_VIDEO_CAPTURE`` buffer type.

.. raw:: latex

\normalsize

enum v4l2_memory

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* - ``V4L2_MEMORY_MMAP``
  - 1
  - The buffer is used for :ref:`memory mapping <mmap>` I/O.
* - ``V4L2_MEMORY_USERPTR``
  - 2
  - The buffer is used for :ref:`user pointer <userp>` I/O.
* - ``V4L2_MEMORY_OVERLAY``
  - 3
  - [to do]
* - ``V4L2_MEMORY_DMABUF``
  - 4
  - The buffer is used for :ref:`DMA shared buffer <dmabuf>` I/O.

.. raw:: latex

\normalsize

Timecodes

The :c:type:v4l2_buffer_timecode structure is designed to hold a :ref:smpte12m or similar timecode. (struct :c:type:timeval timestamps are stored in the struct :c:type:v4l2_buffer timestamp field.)

.. c:type:: v4l2_timecode

struct v4l2_timecode

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* - __u32
  - ``type``
  - Frame rate the timecodes are based on, see :ref:`timecode-type`.
* - __u32
  - ``flags``
  - Timecode flags, see :ref:`timecode-flags`.
* - __u8
  - ``frames``
  - Frame count, 0 ... 23/24/29/49/59, depending on the type of
timecode.
* - __u8
  - ``seconds``
  - Seconds count, 0 ... 59. This is a binary, not BCD number.
* - __u8
  - ``minutes``
  - Minutes count, 0 ... 59. This is a binary, not BCD number.
* - __u8
  - ``hours``
  - Hours count, 0 ... 29. This is a binary, not BCD number.
* - __u8
  - ``userbits``\ [4]
  - The "user group" bits from the timecode.

.. _timecode-type:

Timecode Types

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* - ``V4L2_TC_TYPE_24FPS``
  - 1
  - 24 frames per second, i. e. film.
* - ``V4L2_TC_TYPE_25FPS``
  - 2
  - 25 frames per second, i. e. PAL or SECAM video.
* - ``V4L2_TC_TYPE_30FPS``
  - 3
  - 30 frames per second, i. e. NTSC video.
* - ``V4L2_TC_TYPE_50FPS``
  - 4
  -
* - ``V4L2_TC_TYPE_60FPS``
  - 5
  -

.. _timecode-flags:

Timecode Flags

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* - ``V4L2_TC_FLAG_DROPFRAME``
  - 0x0001
  - Indicates "drop frame" semantics for counting frames in 29.97 fps
material. When set, frame numbers 0 and 1 at the start of each
minute, except minutes 0, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 are omitted from the
count.
* - ``V4L2_TC_FLAG_COLORFRAME``
  - 0x0002
  - The "color frame" flag.
* - ``V4L2_TC_USERBITS_field``
  - 0x000C
  - Field mask for the "binary group flags".
* - ``V4L2_TC_USERBITS_USERDEFINED``
  - 0x0000
  - Unspecified format.
* - ``V4L2_TC_USERBITS_8BITCHARS``
  - 0x0008
  - 8-bit ISO characters.