---
name: "toascii"
section: "3"
platform: "linux"
package: "man-pages"
version: "6.19-1"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux", "freebsd", "macos"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/toascii"
---

# toascii(3)

convert character to ASCII

## NAME

toascii - convert character to ASCII

## LIBRARY

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

## SYNOPSIS

```
#include <ctype.h>
```

**\[\[deprecated\]\] int toascii(int** *c***);**

Feature Test Macro Requirements for glibc (see [**feature\_test\_macros**(7)](/feature_test_macros/7.md)):

**toascii**():

```
    _XOPEN_SOURCE
        || /* glibc >= 2.19: */ _DEFAULT_SOURCE
        || /* glibc <= 2.19: */ _SVID_SOURCE || _BSD_SOURCE
```

## DESCRIPTION

**toascii**() converts *c* to a 7-bit *unsigned char* value that fits into the ASCII character set, by clearing the high-order bits.

## RETURN VALUE

The value returned is that of the converted character.

## ATTRIBUTES

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

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

## STANDARDS

POSIX.1-2008.

## HISTORY

SVr4, BSD, POSIX.1-2001. Obsolete in POSIX.1-2008, noting that it cannot be used portably in a localized application.

## BUGS

Many people will be unhappy if you use this function. This function will convert accented letters into random characters.

## SEE ALSO

[**isascii**(3)](/isascii/3.md), [**tolower**(3)](/tolower/3.md), [**toupper**(3)](/toupper/3.md)