keyname(CURSES)

keyname -- get name of key

Synopsis

cc [options] file -lcurses

#include <curses.h>

char *keyname(int c);

char *key_name(wchar_t c);

Description

The keyname(CURSES) and key_name(CURSES) functions generate a character string whose value describes the key c. The c argument of keyname(CURSES) can be an 8-bit character or a key code. The c argument of key_name(CURSES) must be a wide character.

The string has a format according to the first applicable row in the following table:

Input Format of returned string

Visible character The same character

Control character ^X

Meta-character (keyname only) M-X

Key value defined in curses.h (keyname only) KEY_name

None of the above UNKNOWN KEY

Input	Format of returned string
Visible character	The same character
Control character	^X
Meta-character (keyname only)	M-X
Key value defined in curses.h (keyname only)	KEY_name
None of the above	UNKNOWN KEY

The meta-character notation shown above is used only if meta-characters are enabled.

Return value

Upon successful completion, keyname(CURSES) returns a pointer to a string as described above. Otherwise, it returns a null pointer.

Errors

No errors are defined.

Usage

The return value of keyname(CURSES) and key_name(CURSES) may point to a static area which is overwritten by a subsequent call to either of these functions.

Applications normally process meta-characters without storing them into a window. If an application stores meta-characters in a window and tries to retrieve them as wide characters, keyname(CURSES) cannot detect meta-characters, since wide characters do not support meta-characters.

Standards Conformance

The Single UNIX Specification, Version 2; The Open Group.

References

meta(CURSES), curses(F)