---
name: "ggiGetc"
section: "3"
platform: "linux"
package: "libggi2-dev"
version: "1:2.2.2-5"
release: "Debian 6.0 (Squeeze)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/ggiGetc"
---

# ggiGetc(3)

Convenience functions for simplistic keyboard input

## NAME

**ggiGetc**, **ggiKbhit** - Convenience functions for simplistic keyboard input

## SYNOPSIS

```
#include <ggi/ggi.h>
int ggiGetc(ggi_visual_t vis);
int ggiKbhit(ggi_visual_t vis);
```

## DESCRIPTION

**ggiGetc** gets a character from the keyboard, and blocks if there is no key immediately available.

**ggiKbhit** checks if a key has been hit on the keyboard.  This does not consume the key.  It is used for easy porting of old DOS applications.

**Important:** *Do not* poll like this: `do while( ! ggiKbhit(vis) );` On a multitasking OS you would be wasting a lot of resources which could be available to other processes.  If you want to wait for a key, use the **ggiGetc** call.

## RETURN VALUE

**ggiKbhit** returns **0** if no key has been received yet, otherwise there is a key to be consumed.

**ggiGetc** returns a Unicode character in canonical form.

For a more detailed definition of characters, see `gii_key_event(3)`.

## SEE ALSO

`ggiEventPoll(3)`