---
name: "putwchar"
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/putwchar"
---

# putwchar(3)

write a wide character to standard output

## NAME

putwchar - write a wide character to standard output

## LIBRARY

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

## SYNOPSIS

```
#include <wchar.h>
```

**wint\_t putwchar(wchar\_t** *wc***);**

## DESCRIPTION

The **putwchar**() function is the wide-character equivalent of the [**putchar**(3)](/putchar/3.md) function. It writes the wide character *wc* to *stdout*. If *ferror(stdout)* becomes true, it returns **WEOF**. If a wide character conversion error occurs, it sets *errno* to **EILSEQ** and returns **WEOF**. Otherwise, it returns *wc*.

For a nonlocking counterpart, see [**unlocked\_stdio**(3)](/unlocked_stdio/3.md).

## RETURN VALUE

The **putwchar**() function returns *wc* if no error occurred, or **WEOF** to indicate an error.

## ATTRIBUTES

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

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

## STANDARDS

C11, POSIX.1-2008.

## HISTORY

POSIX.1-2001, C99.

## NOTES

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

It is reasonable to expect that **putwchar**() will actually write the multibyte sequence corresponding to the wide character *wc*.

## SEE ALSO

[**fputwc**(3)](/fputwc/3.md), [**unlocked\_stdio**(3)](/unlocked_stdio/3.md)