# zmq_sendmsg(3) Manual Page

## NAME

zmq_sendmsg - send a message part on a socket

## SYNOPSIS

int zmq_sendmsg (void *socket, zmq_msg_t *msg, int flags);

## DESCRIPTION

The zmq_sendmsg() function shall queue the message referenced by the msg argument to be sent to the socket referenced by the socket argument. The flags argument is a combination of the flags defined below:

ZMQ_DONTWAIT

  For socket types (DEALER, PUSH) that block when there are no available peers (or all peers have full high-water mark), specifies that the operation should be performed in non-blocking mode. If the message cannot be queued on the socket, the zmq_sendmsg() function shall fail with errno set to EAGAIN.

ZMQ_SNDMORE

  Specifies that the message being sent is a multi-part message, and that further message parts are to follow. Refer to the section regarding multi-part messages below for a detailed description.

The zmq_msg_t structure passed to zmq_sendmsg() is nullified during the call. If you want to send the same message to multiple sockets you have to copy it using (e.g. using zmq_msg_copy()).

Note | A successful invocation of zmq_sendmsg() does not indicate that the message has been transmitted to the network, only that it has been queued on the socket and ØMQ has assumed responsibility for the message.

Note | this API method is deprecated in favor of zmq_msg_send(3).

### Multi-part messages

A ØMQ message is composed of 1 or more message parts. Each message part is an independent zmq_msg_t in its own right. ØMQ ensures atomic delivery of messages: peers shall receive either all message parts of a message or none at all. The total number of message parts is unlimited except by available memory.

An application that sends multi-part messages must use the ZMQ_SNDMORE flag when sending each message part except the final one.

## RETURN VALUE

The zmq_sendmsg() function shall return number of bytes in the message if successful. Otherwise it shall return `-1` and set errno to one of the values defined below.

## ERRORS

EAGAIN

  Non-blocking mode was requested and the message cannot be sent at the moment.

ENOTSUP

  The zmq_sendmsg() operation is not supported by this socket type.

EFSM

  The zmq_sendmsg() operation cannot be performed on this socket at the moment due to the socket not being in the appropriate state. This error may occur with socket types that switch between several states, such as ZMQ_REP. See the messaging patterns section of zmq_socket(3) for more information.

ETERM

  The ØMQ context associated with the specified socket was terminated.

ENOTSOCK

  The provided socket was invalid.

EINTR

  The operation was interrupted by delivery of a signal before the message was sent.

EFAULT

  Invalid message.

EHOSTUNREACH

  The message cannot be routed.

## EXAMPLE

Filling in a message and sending it to a socket

    /* Create a new message, allocating 6 bytes for message content */
    zmq_msg_t msg;
    int rc = zmq_msg_init_size (&msg, 6);
    assert (rc == 0);
    /* Fill in message content with 'AAAAAA' */
    memset (zmq_msg_data (&msg), 'A', 6);
    /* Send the message to the socket */
    rc = zmq_sendmsg (socket, &msg, 0);
    assert (rc == 6);

Sending a multi-part message

    /* Send a multi-part message consisting of three parts to socket */
    rc = zmq_sendmsg (socket, &part1, ZMQ_SNDMORE);
    rc = zmq_sendmsg (socket, &part2, ZMQ_SNDMORE);
    /* Final part; no more parts to follow */
    rc = zmq_sendmsg (socket, &part3, 0);

## SEE ALSO

zmq_recv(3) zmq_socket(7) zmq(7)

## AUTHORS

This page was written by the ØMQ community. To make a change please read the ØMQ Contribution Policy at http://www.zeromq.org/docs:contributing.