# man > H2PH(1)

[_H2PH_(1)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/H2PH/1/markdown)                           Perl Programmers Reference Guide                           [_H2PH_(1)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/H2PH/1/markdown)

## NAME
       h2ph - convert .h C header files to .ph Perl header files

## SYNOPSIS
### h2ph [-d destination directory] [-r | -a] [-l] [-h] [-e] [-D] [-Q] [headerfiles]

## DESCRIPTION
       _h2ph_ converts any C header files specified to the corresponding Perl header file format.  It
       is most easily run while in /usr/include:

               cd /usr/include; h2ph * sys/*

       or

               cd /usr/include; h2ph * sys/* arpa/* netinet/*

       or

               cd /usr/include; h2ph -r -l .

       The output files are placed in the hierarchy rooted at Perl's architecture dependent library
       directory.  You can specify a different hierarchy with a **-d **switch.

       If run with no arguments, filters standard input to standard output.

## OPTIONS
       -d destination_dir
           Put  the resulting **.ph **files beneath **destination_dir**, instead of beneath the default Perl
           library location ($Config{'installsitearch'}).

       -r  Run recursively; if any of **headerfiles **are directories, then run _h2ph_  on  all  files  in
           those directories (and their subdirectories, etc.).  **-r **and **-a **are mutually exclusive.

       -a  Run automagically; convert **headerfiles**, as well as any **.h **files which they include.  This
           option will search for **.h **files in all directories which your C compiler ordinarily uses.
           **-a **and **-r **are mutually exclusive.

       -l  Symbolic  links will be replicated in the destination directory.  If **-l **is not specified,
           then links are skipped over.

       -h  Put 'hints' in the .ph files which will help in locating problems with  _h2ph_.   In  those
           cases when you **require **a **.ph **file containing syntax errors, instead of the cryptic

                   [ some error condition ] at (eval mmm) line nnn

           you will see the slightly more helpful

                   [ some error condition ] at filename.ph line nnn

           However, the **.ph **files almost double in size when built using **-h**.

       -e  If  an  error is encountered during conversion, output file will be removed and a warning
           emitted instead of terminating the conversion immediately.

       -D  Include the code from the **.h **file as a comment in the **.ph **file.  This is  primarily  used
           for debugging _h2ph_.

       -Q  'Quiet' mode; don't print out the names of the files being converted.

## ENVIRONMENT
       No environment variables are used.

## FILES
        /usr/include/*.h
        /usr/include/sys/*.h

       etc.

## AUTHOR
       Larry Wall

## SEE ALSO
       [**perl**(1)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/perl/1/markdown)

## DIAGNOSTICS
       The usual warnings if it can't read or write the files involved.

## BUGS
       Doesn't construct the %sizeof array for you.

       It  doesn't  handle all C constructs, but it does attempt to isolate definitions inside evals
       so that you can get at the definitions that it can translate.

       It's only intended as a rough tool.  You may need to dicker with the files produced.

       You have to run this program by hand; it's not run as part of the Perl installation.

       Doesn't handle complicated expressions built piecemeal, a la:

           enum {
               FIRST_VALUE,
               SECOND_VALUE,
           #ifdef ABC
               THIRD_VALUE
           #endif
           };

       Doesn't necessarily locate all of your C compiler's internally-defined symbols.

perl v5.38.2                                 2026-06-12                                      [_H2PH_(1)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/H2PH/1/markdown)