libnftnl ☆

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Description:
Netfilter library providing interface to the nf_tables subsystem

Type: Formula | Tracked Since: Dec 28, 2025

Links: Homepage | formulae.brew.sh

Category: Networking

Tags: networking firewall security kernel netfilter nftables

Install: brew install libnftnl

About:
Libnftnl is a low-level C library that provides a JSON-based interface to the Linux kernel's nf_tables subsystem. It allows applications to programmatically manage netfilter rules, including rules, sets, chains, and counters. This library serves as the foundational building block for modern firewall tools like nftables and firewalld.

Key Features:

C library for nf_tables kernel interface
JSON-based rule configuration and parsing
Object-oriented API for rules, chains, and sets
Supports atomic rule transactions

Use Cases:

Developing custom firewall management applications
Integrating netfilter rule manipulation into network services
Building alternative tools to iptables/nftables CLIs

Alternatives:

libiptc – Legacy library for iptables (IPv4/IPv6) with a different API; libnftnl is for the newer nftables subsystem.
nftables (CLI) – The standard command-line tool that uses libnftnl internally; libnftnl provides the library interface for programmatic use.

Version History

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