Reference

localeconv(3)

natural language formatting for C

NAME

localeconv – natural language formatting for C

LIBRARY

Standard C Library (libc, -lc)

SYNOPSIS

#include <locale.h>

struct lconv *

localeconv(void);

#include <xlocale.h>

struct lconv *

localeconv_l(locale_t locale);

DESCRIPTION

The localeconv() function returns a pointer to a structure which provides parameters for formatting numbers, especially currency values:

struct lconv {
	char	*decimal_point;
	char	*thousands_sep;
	char	*grouping;
	char	*int_curr_symbol;
	char	*currency_symbol;
	char	*mon_decimal_point;
	char	*mon_thousands_sep;
	char	*mon_grouping;
	char	*positive_sign;
	char	*negative_sign;
	char	int_frac_digits;
	char	frac_digits;
	char	p_cs_precedes;
	char	p_sep_by_space;
	char	n_cs_precedes;
	char	n_sep_by_space;
	char	p_sign_posn;
	char	n_sign_posn;
	char	int_p_cs_precedes;
	char	int_n_cs_precedes;
	char	int_p_sep_by_space;
	char	int_n_sep_by_space;
	char	int_p_sign_posn;
	char	int_n_sign_posn;
};

The individual fields have the following meanings:

decimal_point

The decimal point character, except for currency values, cannot be an empty string.

thousands_sep

The separator between groups of digits before the decimal point, except for currency values.

grouping

The sizes of the groups of digits, except for currency values. This is a pointer to a vector of integers, each of size char, representing group size from low order digit groups to high order (right to left). The list may be terminated with 0 or CHAR_MAX. If the list is terminated with 0, the last group size before the 0 is repeated to account for all the digits. If the list is terminated with CHAR_MAX, no more grouping is performed.

int_curr_symbol

The standardized international currency symbol.

currency_symbol

The local currency symbol.

mon_decimal_point

The decimal point character for currency values.

mon_thousands_sep

The separator for digit groups in currency values.

mon_grouping

Like grouping but for currency values.

positive_sign

The character used to denote nonnegative currency values, usually the empty string.

negative_sign

The character used to denote negative currency values, usually a minus sign.

int_frac_digits

The number of digits after the decimal point in an international-style currency value.

frac_digits

The number of digits after the decimal point in the local style for currency values.

p_cs_precedes

1 if the currency symbol precedes the currency value for nonnegative values, 0 if it follows.

p_sep_by_space

1 if a space is inserted between the currency symbol and the currency value for nonnegative values, 0 otherwise.

n_cs_precedes

Like p_cs_precedes but for negative values.

n_sep_by_space

Like p_sep_by_space but for negative values.

p_sign_posn

The location of the positive_sign with respect to a nonnegative quantity and the currency_symbol, coded as follows:

0

Parentheses around the entire string.

1

Before the string.

2

After the string.

3

Just before currency_symbol.

4

Just after currency_symbol.

n_sign_posn

Like p_sign_posn but for negative currency values.

int_p_cs_precedes

Same as p_cs_precedes, but for internationally formatted monetary quantities.

int_n_cs_precedes

Same as n_cs_precedes, but for internationally formatted monetary quantities.

int_p_sep_by_space

Same as p_sep_by_space, but for internationally formatted monetary quantities.

int_n_sep_by_space

Same as n_sep_by_space, but for internationally formatted monetary quantities.

int_p_sign_posn

Same as p_sign_posn, but for internationally formatted monetary quantities.

int_n_sign_posn

Same as n_sign_posn, but for internationally formatted monetary quantities.

Unless mentioned above, an empty string as a value for a field indicates a zero length result or a value that is not in the current locale. A CHAR_MAX result similarly denotes an unavailable value.

The localeconv_l() function takes an explicit locale parameter. For more information, see xlocale(3).

RETURN VALUES

The localeconv() function returns a pointer to a static object which may be altered by later calls to setlocale(3) or localeconv(). The return value for localeconv_l() is stored with the locale. It will remain valid until a subsequent call to freelocale(3). If a thread-local locale is in effect then the return value from localeconv() will remain valid until the locale is destroyed.

ERRORS

No errors are defined.

SEE ALSO

setlocale(3), strfmon(3)

STANDARDS

The localeconv() function conforms to ISO/IEC 9899:1999 (“ISO C99”).

HISTORY

The localeconv() function first appeared in 4.4BSD.

History