---
name: "move"
section: "3ncurses"
platform: "linux"
package: "ncurses-doc"
version: "6.5+20250216-2"
release: "Debian 13 (Trixie)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/move/3ncurses"
---

# move(3ncurses)

move cursor in a curses window

## NAME

**move**, **wmove** - move cursor in a *curses* window

## SYNOPSIS

```
#include <curses.h>
```

**int move(int** *y***, int** *x***);** **int wmove(WINDOW \*** *win***, int** *y***, int** *x***);**

## DESCRIPTION

**wmove** **relocates the cursor associated with the** *curses* **window** *win* **to line** *y* **and column** *x*. **The terminal's cursor does not move until refresh(3NCURSES) is called.** **The position** (*y*, *x*) **is relative to the upper left-hand corner of the window,** **which has coordinates** **(0, 0).** **ncurses(3NCURSES) describes the** **move** **variant of this function.**

## RETURN VALUE

**These functions return** **OK** **on success and** **ERR** **on failure.**

**They fail if the position** (*y*, *x*) **is outside the window boundaries.**

**In** *ncurses*, **wmove** **fails if** *win* **is** *NULL*.

## NOTES

**move** **may be implemented as a macro.**

## PORTABILITY

**X/Open Curses Issue 4 describes these functions.** **It specifies no error conditions for them.**

**SVr4 describes a successful return value only as** **“an integer value other than** *ERR*”.

## HISTORY

**4BSD (1980)** **introduced these functions.**

## SEE ALSO

**ncurses(3NCURSES),** **refresh(3NCURSES)**