GETPASS(3)                     Library Routines                     GETPASS(3)

NAME

       getpass - get a password

SYNOPSIS

       #include <pwd.h>
       #include <unistd.h>

       char *getpass (const char *prompt);

DESCRIPTION

       The  getpass  function  displays  a  prompt to, and reads in a password
       from, .tty.  If this device is not  accessible,  getpass  displays  the
       prompt on the standard error output and reads from the standard input.

       The  password  may be up to _PASSWORD_LEN (currently 128) characters in
       length.  Any additional characters and the terminating newline  charac‐
       ter are discarded.

       Getpass turns off character echoing while reading the password.

RETURN VALUES

       Getpass returns a pointer to the null terminated password.

SEE ALSO

       crypt(3)

HISTORY

       A getpass function appeared in Version 7 AT&T UNIX.

BUGS

       The getpass function leaves its result in an internal static object and
       returns a pointer to that object.  Subsequent  calls  to  getpass  will
       modify the same object.

       The  calling  process  should  zero the password as soon as possible to
       avoid leaving the cleartext password visible in the  process's  address
       space.

       Upon  receipt  of  a  SIGTSTP, the input buffer will be flushed, so any
       partially typed password must be retyped when the process continues.



GNO                            25 February 1997                     GETPASS(3)