---
name: "iswpunct"
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/iswpunct"
---

# iswpunct(3)

test for punctuation or symbolic wide character

## NAME

iswpunct - test for punctuation or symbolic wide character

## LIBRARY

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

## SYNOPSIS

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

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

## DESCRIPTION

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

The wide-character class "punct" is a subclass of the wide-character class "graph", and therefore also a subclass of the wide-character class "print".

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

Being a subclass of the wide-character class "print", the wide-character class "punct" is disjoint from the wide-character class "cntrl".

Being a subclass of the wide-character class "graph", the wide-character class "punct" is disjoint from the wide-character class "space" and its subclass "blank".

## RETURN VALUE

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

## ATTRIBUTES

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

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

## STANDARDS

C11, POSIX.1-2008.

## HISTORY

POSIX.1-2001, C99.

## NOTES

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

This function's name is a misnomer when dealing with Unicode characters, because the wide-character class "punct" contains both punctuation characters and symbol (math, currency, etc.) characters.

## SEE ALSO

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