---
name: "addnstr"
section: "3"
platform: "freebsd"
package: "base"
version: "16.0-CURRENT-20261027-61c70dc16a79"
release: "FreeBSD 16.0-CURRENT (2026-10-27)"
platforms: ["freebsd"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/addnstr"
---

# addnstr(3)

add a string to a curses window and advance the cursor

## NAME

**addstr**, **waddstr**, **mvaddstr**, **mvwaddstr**, **addnstr**, **waddnstr**, **mvaddnstr**, **mvwaddnstr** - add a string to a *curses* window and advance the cursor

## SYNOPSIS

```
#include <curses.h>
```

**int addstr(const char \*** *str***);** **int waddstr(WINDOW \*** *win***, const char \*** *str***);** **int mvaddstr(int** *y***, int** *x***, const char \*** *str***);** **int mvwaddstr(WINDOW \*** *win***, int** *y***, int** *x***, const char \*** *str***);**

**int addnstr(const char \*** *str***, int** *n***);** **int waddnstr(WINDOW \*** *win***, const char \*** *str***, int** *n***);** **int mvaddnstr(int** *y***, int** *x***, const char \*** *str***, int** *n***);** **int mvwaddnstr(WINDOW \*** *win***, int** *y***, int** *x***, const char \*** *str***, int** *n***);**

## DESCRIPTION

**waddstr** **writes the characters of the (null-terminated) string** *str* **to the window** *win*, **as if by calling waddch(3X) for each** *char* **in** *str*. **waddnstr** **is similar,** **but writes at most** *n* **characters.** **If** *n* **is -1,** **waddnstr** **writes the entire string.** **ncurses(3X) describes the variants of these functions.**

## RETURN VALUE

**These functions return** **OK** **on success and** **ERR** **on failure.**

**In** *ncurses*, **these functions fail if**

- •

  **the** *curses* **screen has not been initialized,**

- •

  *str* **is a null pointer,**

- •

  **(for functions taking a** *WINDOW* **pointer argument)** *win* **is a null pointer,** **or**

- •

  **an internal waddch(3X) call returns** **ERR**.

**Functions prefixed with “mv” first perform cursor movement and** **fail if the position** (*y*, *x*) **is outside the window boundaries.**

## NOTES

**All of these functions except** **waddnstr** **may be implemented as macros.**

## PORTABILITY

**X/Open Curses Issue 4 describes these functions.** **It specifies no error conditions for them.**

**SVr4 describes a successful return value only as** **“an integer value other than** *ERR*”.

## HISTORY

**4BSD (1980)** **introduced** *waddstr* **along with its variants,** **the latter defined as macros.**

**SVr3.1 (1987)** **added** *waddnstr* **(and its variants)** **redefining** *waddstr* **as a macro wrapping it.**

## SEE ALSO

**curs\_addwstr(3X) describes comparable functions of the** *ncurses* **library in its wide-character configuration** (*ncursesw*).

**curses(3X),** **curs\_addch(3X),** **curs\_addchstr(3X)**