---
name: "XtInitialize"
section: "3"
platform: "linux"
package: "libxt"
version: "1.3.1-1"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/XtInitialize"
---

# XtInitialize(3)

initialize

## NAME

XtInitialize - initialize

## SYNTAX

\#include \<X11/Intrinsic.h\>

Widget XtInitialize(const char \**shell\_name*, const char \**application\_class*, XrmOptionDescRec\* *options*, Cardinal *num\_options*, int\* *argc*, char\*\* *argv*);

## ARGUMENTS

- *shell\_name*

  Specifies the name of the created shell widget.

- *application\_class*

  Specifies the class name of this application, which usually is the generic name for all instances of this application.

- *options*

  Specifies how to parse the command line for any application-specific resources. The options argument is passed as a parameter to **XrmParseCommand**. For further information, see *Xlib - C Language X Interface*.

- *num\_options*

  Specifies the number of entries in the options list.

- *argc*

  Specifies a pointer to the number of command line parameters.

- *argv*

  Specifies the command line parameters.

## DESCRIPTION

**XtInitialize** calls **XtToolkitInitialize** followed by **XtOpenDisplay** with *display\_string* NULL and *application\_name* NULL, and finally calls **XtAppCreateShell** with *application\_name* NULL, *widget\_class* **applicationShellWidgetClass**, and the specified *args* and *num\_args* and returns the created shell. The semantics of calling **XtInitialize** more than once are undefined. This routine has been replaced by **XtAppInitialize**.

## SEE ALSO

[**XtAppInitialize**(3)](/XtAppInitialize/3.md)\
 *X Toolkit Intrinsics - C Language Interface*\
 *Xlib - C Language X Interface*