---
name: "notcurses_util"
section: "3"
platform: "linux"
package: "notcurses"
version: "3.0.17-3"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/notcurses_util"
---

# notcurses\_util(3)

portable utility functions

## NAME

notcurses\_util - portable utility functions

## SYNOPSIS

**#include \<notcurses/notcurses.h\>**

**char\* notcurses\_accountname(void);**

**char\* notcurses\_hostname(void);**

**char\* notcurses\_osversion(void);**

## DESCRIPTION

Notcurses provides some utility functions, usually to abstract away platform-dependent differences.

**notcurses\_accountname** returns a heap-allocated copy of the account name under which the program is running. **notcurses\_hostname** returns a heap-allocated copy of the local host name. **notcurses\_osversion** returns a heap-allocated human-readable representation of the operating system and its version.

## NOTES

## RETURN VALUES

All functions return ***NULL*** on error.

## SEE ALSO

**[hostname(1)](/hostname/1.md)**, **[notcurses(3)](/notcurses/3.md)**

## AUTHORS

nick black ⟨nickblack@linux.com⟩\\c.