ioctl VIDIOC_G_FMT, VIDIOC_S_FMT, VIDIOC_TRY_FMT &manvol; VIDIOC_G_FMT VIDIOC_S_FMT VIDIOC_TRY_FMT Get or set the data format, try a format int ioctl int fd int request struct v4l2_format *argp fd &fd; request VIDIOC_G_FMT, VIDIOC_S_FMT, VIDIOC_TRY_FMT argp These ioctls are used to negotiate the format of data (typically image format) exchanged between driver and application. To query the current parameters applications set the type field of a struct v4l2_format to the respective buffer (stream) type. For example video capture devices use V4L2_BUF_TYPE_VIDEO_CAPTURE. When the application calls the VIDIOC_G_FMT ioctl with a pointer to this structure the driver fills the respective member of the fmt union. In case of video capture devices that is the &v4l2-pix-format; pix member. When the requested buffer type is not supported drivers return an &EINVAL;. To change the current format parameters applications initialize the type field and all fields of the respective fmt union member. For details see the documentation of the various devices types in . Good practice is to query the current parameters first, and to modify only those parameters not suitable for the application. When the application calls the VIDIOC_S_FMT ioctl with a pointer to a v4l2_format structure the driver checks and adjusts the parameters against hardware abilities. Drivers should not return an error code unless the input is ambiguous, this is a mechanism to fathom device capabilities and to approach parameters acceptable for both the application and driver. On success the driver may program the hardware, allocate resources and generally prepare for data exchange. Finally the VIDIOC_S_FMT ioctl returns the current format parameters as VIDIOC_G_FMT does. Very simple, inflexible devices may even ignore all input and always return the default parameters. However all V4L2 devices exchanging data with the application must implement the VIDIOC_G_FMT and VIDIOC_S_FMT ioctl. When the requested buffer type is not supported drivers return an &EINVAL; on a VIDIOC_S_FMT attempt. When I/O is already in progress or the resource is not available for other reasons drivers return the &EBUSY;. The VIDIOC_TRY_FMT ioctl is equivalent to VIDIOC_S_FMT with one exception: it does not change driver state. It can also be called at any time, never returning EBUSY. This function is provided to negotiate parameters, to learn about hardware limitations, without disabling I/O or possibly time consuming hardware preparations. Although strongly recommended drivers are not required to implement this ioctl. &v4l2-buf-type; type Type of the data stream, see . union fmt &v4l2-pix-format; pix Definition of an image format, see , used by video capture and output devices. &v4l2-window; win Definition of an overlaid image, see , used by video overlay devices. &v4l2-vbi-format; vbi Raw VBI capture or output parameters. This is discussed in more detail in . Used by raw VBI capture and output devices. &v4l2-sliced-vbi-format; sliced Sliced VBI capture or output parameters. See for details. Used by sliced VBI capture and output devices. __u8 raw_data[200] Place holder for future extensions and custom (driver defined) formats with type V4L2_BUF_TYPE_PRIVATE and higher. &return-value; EBUSY The data format cannot be changed at this time, for example because I/O is already in progress. EINVAL The &v4l2-format; type field is invalid, the requested buffer type not supported, or VIDIOC_TRY_FMT was called and is not supported with this buffer type.