errno 93 (ENOTEMPTY): meaning and diagnosis

Status / error code:		Category:

Constant name:
Source:		Operating System:
Description: Solaris refused to remove or rename a directory because it still contains entries.

Could be also:
Constant	Type	OS
EPROTONOSUPPORT	errno	Linux
ENOATTR	errno	Mac
UNSUPPORTED_PROCESSOR	BugCheck Code	Windows

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ENOATTR	ESOCKTNOSUPPORT

ENOTEMPTY

Non-empty directory operation

On Solaris, ENOTEMPTY is errno value 93. The base message is directory not empty, but the useful diagnostic context is narrower than the short message: Solaris refused to remove or rename a directory because it still contains entries.

Use the Solaris-specific errno table first, then compare with POSIX only for portable behavior. Some Solaris values share names with other UNIX systems but have different numbers or more specific historical meanings.

What to check

List hidden entries as well as visible names.
Check for concurrent creators in the same directory.
Do not treat this result as a permission error.

References

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