## NAME

curl_multi_timeout - how long to wait for action before proceeding

## SYNOPSIS

#include <curl/curl.h>

CURLMcode curl_multi_timeout(CURLM *multi_handle, long *timeout);

## DESCRIPTION

An application using the libcurl multi interface should call curl_multi_timeout to figure out how long it should wait for socket actions - at most - before proceeding.

Proceeding means either doing the socket-style timeout action: call the curl_multi_socket_action function with the sockfd argument set to CURL_SOCKET_TIMEOUT, or call curl_multi_perform if you're using the simpler and older multi interface approach.

The timeout value returned in the long timeout points to, is in number of milliseconds at this very moment. If 0, it means you should proceed immediately without waiting for anything. If it returns -1, there's no timeout at all set.

An application that uses the multi_socket API SHOULD NOT use this function, but SHOULD instead use curl_multi_setopt and its CURLMOPT_TIMERFUNCTION option for proper and desired behavior.

Note: if libcurl returns a -1 timeout here, it just means that libcurl currently has no stored timeout value. You must not wait too long (more than a few seconds perhaps) before you call curl_multi_perform() again.

## EXAMPLE

    struct timeval timeout;
    long timeo;

    curl_multi_timeout(multi_handle, &timeo);
    if(timeo < 0)
      /* no set timeout, use a default */
      timeo = 980;

    timeout.tv_sec = timeo / 1000;
    timeout.tv_usec = (timeo % 1000) * 1000;

    /* wait for activities no longer than the set timeout */
    select(maxfd+1, &fdread, &fdwrite, &fdexcep, &timeout);

## RETURN VALUE

The standard CURLMcode for multi interface error codes.

## TYPICAL USAGE

Call curl_multi_timeout, then wait for action on the sockets. You figure out which sockets to wait for by calling curl_multi_fdset or by a previous call to curl_multi_socket.

## AVAILABILITY

This function was added in libcurl 7.15.4.

## SEE ALSO

curl_multi_fdset, curl_multi_info_read, curl_multi_socket, curl_multi_setopt

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