# phpman > man > PAM_GETENVLIST(3)

[PAM_GETENVLIST(3)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/PAMGETENVLIST/3/markdown)                         Linux-PAM Manual                         [PAM_GETENVLIST(3)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/PAMGETENVLIST/3/markdown)



## NAME
       pam_getenvlist - getting the PAM environment

## SYNOPSIS
       **#include** **<security/pam**___**appl.h>**

       **char** ****pam**___**getenvlist(pam**___**handle**___**t** *****_pamh_**);**

## DESCRIPTION
       The **pam**___**getenvlist** function returns a complete copy of the PAM environment as associated with
       the handle _pamh_. The PAM environment variables represent the contents of the regular
       environment variables of the authenticated user when service is granted.

       The format of the memory is a malloc()'d array of char pointers, the last element of which is
       set to NULL. Each of the non-NULL entries in this array point to a NUL terminated and
       malloc()'d char string of the form: "_name=value_".

       It should be noted that this memory will never be free()'d by libpam. Once obtained by a call
       to **pam**___**getenvlist**, it is the responsibility of the calling application to free() this memory.

       It is by design, and not a coincidence, that the format and contents of the returned array
       matches that required for the third argument of the [**execle**(3)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/execle/3/markdown) function call.

## RETURN VALUES
       The **pam**___**getenvlist** function returns NULL on failure.

## SEE ALSO
       **pam**___**[start**(3)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/start/3/markdown), **pam**___**[getenv**(3)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/getenv/3/markdown), **pam**___**[putenv**(3)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/putenv/3/markdown), [**pam**(7)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/pam/7/markdown)



Linux-PAM Manual                             06/08/2020                            [PAM_GETENVLIST(3)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/PAMGETENVLIST/3/markdown)