###### (This is the legacy documentation for SDL2, the previous stable version; [SDL3](https://wiki.libsdl.org/SDL3/) is the current stable version.)
# SDL_GetError

Retrieve a message about the last error that occurred on the current thread.

## Header File

Defined in [SDL_error.h](https://github.com/libsdl-org/SDL/blob/SDL2/include/SDL_error.h)

## Syntax

```c
const char* SDL_GetError(void);
```

## Return Value

(const char *) Returns a message with information about the specific error
that occurred, or an empty string if there hasn't been an error message set
since the last call to [SDL_ClearError](SDL_ClearError)(). The message is
only applicable when an SDL function has signaled an error. You must check
the return values of SDL function calls to determine when to appropriately
call [SDL_GetError](SDL_GetError)().

## Remarks

It is possible for multiple errors to occur before calling
[SDL_GetError](SDL_GetError)(). Only the last error is returned.

The message is only applicable when an SDL function has signaled an error.
You must check the return values of SDL function calls to determine when to
appropriately call [SDL_GetError](SDL_GetError)(). You should *not* use the
results of [SDL_GetError](SDL_GetError)() to decide if an error has
occurred! Sometimes SDL will set an error string even when reporting
success.

SDL will *not* clear the error string for successful API calls. You *must*
check return values for failure cases before you can assume the error
string applies.

Error strings are set per-thread, so an error set in a different thread
will not interfere with the current thread's operation.

The returned string is internally allocated and must not be freed by the
application.

## Version

This function is available since SDL 2.0.0.

## See Also

- [SDL_ClearError](SDL_ClearError)
- [SDL_SetError](SDL_SetError)

----
[CategoryAPI](CategoryAPI), [CategoryAPIFunction](CategoryAPIFunction), [CategoryError](CategoryError)