---
name: "SDL_HINT_POLL_SENTINEL"
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_POLL_SENTINEL"
---

# SDL\_HINT\_POLL\_SENTINEL(3)

A variable controlling the use of a sentinel event when polling the event queue.

## NAME

SDL\_HINT\_POLL\_SENTINEL - A variable controlling the use of a sentinel event when polling the event queue.

## HEADER FILE

Defined in SDL3/SDL\_hints.h

## SYNOPSIS

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

**#define SDL\_HINT\_POLL\_SENTINEL** *SDL\_POLL\_SENTINEL"*

## DESCRIPTION

When polling for events,  **SDL\_PumpEvents**\
  is used to gather new events from devices. If a device keeps producing new events between calls to  **SDL\_PumpEvents** , a poll loop will become stuck until the new events stop. This is most noticeable when moving a high frequency mouse.

The variable can be set to the following values:

• "0": Disable poll sentinels.

• "1": Enable poll sentinels. (default)

This hint can be set anytime.

## AVAILABILITY

This hint is available since SDL 3.2.0.