--- name: "localeconv" section: "3" platform: "freebsd" package: "base" version: "16.0-CURRENT-20261027-61c70dc16a79" release: "FreeBSD 16.0-CURRENT (2026-10-27)" platforms: ["linux", "freebsd", "macos"] url: "https://new.carta.tech/localeconv" --- # localeconv(3) natural language formatting for C ## NAME **localeconv** – natural language formatting for C ## LIBRARY Standard C Library (libc, -lc) ## SYNOPSIS **#include \** *struct* *lconv* *\**\ **localeconv**(*void*); **#include \** *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)](/xlocale/3.md). ## RETURN VALUES The **localeconv**() function returns a pointer to a static object which may be altered by later calls to [setlocale(3)](/setlocale/3.md) or **localeconv**(). The return value for **localeconv\_l**() is stored with the locale. It will remain valid until a subsequent call to [freelocale(3)](/freelocale/3.md). 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)](/setlocale/3.md), [strfmon(3)](/strfmon/3.md) ## STANDARDS The **localeconv**() function conforms to ISO/IEC 9899:1999 (“ISO C99”). ## HISTORY The **localeconv**() function first appeared in 4.4BSD.