---
name: "al_init_user_event_source"
section: "3"
platform: "linux"
package: "allegro"
version: "5.2.11.3-2"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/al_init_user_event_source"
---

# al\_init\_user\_event\_source(3)

Allegro 5 API

## NAME

al\_init\_user\_event\_source - Allegro 5 API

## SYNOPSIS

-

  ```
  #include <allegro5/allegro.h>
  void al_init_user_event_source(ALLEGRO_EVENT_SOURCE *src)
  ```

## DESCRIPTION

Initialise an event source for emitting user events. The space for the event source must already have been allocated.

One possible way of creating custom event sources is to derive other structures with ALLEGRO\_EVENT\_SOURCE at the head, e.g.

-

  ```
  typedef struct THING THING;
  struct THING {
      ALLEGRO_EVENT_SOURCE event_source;
      int field1;
      int field2;
      /* etc. */
  };
  THING *create_thing(void)
  {
      THING *thing = malloc(sizeof(THING));
      if (thing) {
          al_init_user_event_source(&thing->event_source);
          thing->field1 = 0;
          thing->field2 = 0;
      }
      return thing;
  }
  ```

The advantage here is that the THING pointer will be the same as the ALLEGRO\_EVENT\_SOURCE pointer. Events emitted by the event source will have the event source pointer as the `source` field, from which you can get a pointer to a THING by a simple cast (after ensuring checking the event is of the correct type).

However, it is only one technique and you are not obliged to use it.

The user event source will never be destroyed automatically. You must destroy it manually with [al\_destroy\_user\_event\_source(3)](/al_destroy_user_event_source/3.md).

## SEE ALSO

[ALLEGRO\_EVENT\_SOURCE(3)](/ALLEGRO_EVENT_SOURCE/3.md), [al\_destroy\_user\_event\_source(3)](/al_destroy_user_event_source/3.md), [al\_emit\_user\_event(3)](/al_emit_user_event/3.md), [ALLEGRO\_USER\_EVENT(3)](/ALLEGRO_USER_EVENT/3.md)