---
name: "SDL_ISPIXELFORMAT_ALPHA"
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_ISPIXELFORMAT_ALPHA"
---

# SDL\_ISPIXELFORMAT\_ALPHA(3)

A macro to determine if an SDL\_PixelFormat has an alpha channel.

## NAME

SDL\_ISPIXELFORMAT\_ALPHA - A macro to determine if an  **SDL\_PixelFormat**\
  has an alpha channel.

## HEADER FILE

Defined in SDL3/SDL\_pixels.h

## SYNOPSIS

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

**#define SDL\_ISPIXELFORMAT\_ALPHA(format)   .BI** *((SDL\_ISPIXELFORMAT\_PACKED(format)***&&***.BI*      **((SDL\_PIXELORDER(format) == SDL\_PACKEDORDER\_ARGB) \|\| .BI** *(SDL\_PIXELORDER(format)***==***SDL\_PACKEDORDER\_RGBA)***\|\|***.BI*       **(SDL\_PIXELORDER(format) == SDL\_PACKEDORDER\_ABGR) \|\| .BI** *(SDL\_PIXELORDER(format)***==***SDL\_PACKEDORDER\_BGRA)))***\|\|***.BI*     **(SDL\_ISPIXELFORMAT\_ARRAY(format) && .BI** *((SDL\_PIXELORDER(format)***==***SDL\_ARRAYORDER\_ARGB)***\|\|***.BI*       **(SDL\_PIXELORDER(format) == SDL\_ARRAYORDER\_RGBA) \|\| .BI** *(SDL\_PIXELORDER(format)***==***SDL\_ARRAYORDER\_ABGR)***\|\|***.BI*       **(SDL\_PIXELORDER(format) == SDL\_ARRAYORDER\_BGRA))))**

## DESCRIPTION

Note that this macro double-evaluates its parameter, so do not use expressions with side-effects here.

## RETURN VALUE

Returns true if the format has alpha, false otherwise.

## THREAD SAFETY

It is safe to call this macro from any thread.

## AVAILABILITY

This macro is available since SDL 3.2.0.