path lookup

Linux 6.18.37 LTS: fs/namei.c
Linux 6.18.37 LTS: fs/dcache.c
Linux 6.18.37 LTS: fs/mount.h

	nd->next_seq = nd->seq;
	return PTR_ERR(step_into(nd, WALK_NOFOLLOW, nd->path.dentry));
}

/* Returns 0 and nd will be valid on success; Retuns error, otherwise. */
static int path_lookupat(struct nameidata *nd, unsigned flags, struct path *path)
{
	const char *s = path_init(nd, flags);
	int err;

	if (unlikely(flags & LOOKUP_DOWN) && !IS_ERR(s)) {
		err = handle_lookup_down(nd);
		if (unlikely(err < 0))
			s = ERR_PTR(err);
	}

	while (!(err = link_path_walk(s, nd)) &&
	       (s = lookup_last(nd)) != NULL)
		;
	if (!err && unlikely(nd->flags & LOOKUP_MOUNTPOINT)) {
		err = handle_lookup_down(nd);
		nd->state &= ~ND_JUMPED; // no d_weak_revalidate(), please...
	}
	if (!err)
		err = complete_walk(nd);

	if (!err && nd->flags & LOOKUP_DIRECTORY)
		if (!d_can_lookup(nd->path.dentry))
			err = -ENOTDIR;
	if (!err) {
		*path = nd->path;
		nd->path.mnt = NULL;
		nd->path.dentry = NULL;
	}
	terminate_walk(nd);
	return err;
}

int filename_lookup(int dfd, struct filename *name, unsigned flags,
		    struct path *path, struct path *root)

 * the final dentry. We expect 'base' to be positive and a directory.
 *
 * Returns 0 and nd will have valid dentry and mnt on success.
 * Returns error and drops reference to input namei data on failure.
 */
static int link_path_walk(const char *name, struct nameidata *nd)
{
	int depth = 0; // depth <= nd->depth
	int err;

	nd->last_type = LAST_ROOT;
	nd->flags |= LOOKUP_PARENT;
	if (IS_ERR(name))
		return PTR_ERR(name);
	while (*name=='/')
		name++;
	if (!*name) {
		nd->dir_mode = 0; // short-circuit the 'hardening' idiocy
		return 0;
	}

	/* At this point we know we have a real path component. */
	for(;;) {
		struct mnt_idmap *idmap;
		const char *link;
		u64 hash_len;
		int type;

		idmap = mnt_idmap(nd->path.mnt);
		err = may_lookup(idmap, nd);
		if (err)
			return err;

		hash_len = hash_name(nd->path.dentry, name);

		type = LAST_NORM;
		if (name[0] == '.') switch (hashlen_len(hash_len)) {
			case 2:
				if (name[1] == '.') {
					type = LAST_DOTDOT;