---
name: "iswcntrl"
section: "3"
platform: "linux"
package: "man-pages"
version: "6.19-1"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux", "freebsd"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/iswcntrl"
---

# iswcntrl(3)

test for control wide character

## NAME

iswcntrl - test for control wide character

## LIBRARY

Standard C library (*libc*, *-lc*)

## SYNOPSIS

```
#include <wctype.h>
```

**int iswcntrl(wint\_t** *wc***);**

## DESCRIPTION

The **iswcntrl**() function is the wide-character equivalent of the [**iscntrl**(3)](/iscntrl/3.md) function. It tests whether *wc* is a wide character belonging to the wide-character class "cntrl".

The wide-character class "cntrl" is disjoint from the wide-character class "print" and therefore also disjoint from its subclasses "graph", "alpha", "upper", "lower", "digit", "xdigit", "punct".

For an unsigned char *c*, *iscntrl(c)* implies *iswcntrl(btowc(c))*, but not vice versa.

## RETURN VALUE

The **iswcntrl**() function returns nonzero if *wc* is a wide character belonging to the wide-character class "cntrl". Otherwise, it returns zero.

## ATTRIBUTES

For an explanation of the terms used in this section, see [**attributes**(7)](/attributes/7.md).

| | | |
| --- | --- | --- |
| **Interface** | **Attribute** | **Value** |
| **iswcntrl**() | Thread safety | MT-Safe locale |

## STANDARDS

C11, POSIX.1-2008.

## HISTORY

POSIX.1-2001, C99.

## NOTES

The behavior of **iswcntrl**() depends on the **LC\_CTYPE** category of the current locale.

## SEE ALSO

[**iscntrl**(3)](/iscntrl/3.md), [**iswctype**(3)](/iswctype/3.md)