---
name: "SDL_HINT_AUDIO_FORMAT"
section: "3"
platform: "linux"
package: "libsdl3-doc"
version: "3.2.10+ds-1"
release: "Debian 13 (Trixie)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/SDL_HINT_AUDIO_FORMAT"
---

# SDL\_HINT\_AUDIO\_FORMAT(3)

A variable controlling the default audio format.

## NAME

SDL\_HINT\_AUDIO\_FORMAT - A variable controlling the default audio format.

## HEADER FILE

Defined in SDL3/SDL\_hints.h

## SYNOPSIS

```
#include "SDL3/SDL.h"
```

**#define SDL\_HINT\_AUDIO\_FORMAT** *SDL\_AUDIO\_FORMAT"*

## DESCRIPTION

If the application doesn't specify the audio format when opening the device, this hint can be used to specify a default format that will be used.

The variable can be set to the following values:

• "U8": Unsigned 8-bit audio

• "S8": Signed 8-bit audio

• "S16LE": Signed 16-bit little-endian audio

• "S16BE": Signed 16-bit big-endian audio

• "S16": Signed 16-bit native-endian audio (default)

• "S32LE": Signed 32-bit little-endian audio

• "S32BE": Signed 32-bit big-endian audio

• "S32": Signed 32-bit native-endian audio

• "F32LE": Floating point little-endian audio

• "F32BE": Floating point big-endian audio

• "F32": Floating point native-endian audio

This hint should be set before an audio device is opened.

## AVAILABILITY

This hint is available since SDL 3.2.0.