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

# wchar\_t(3type)

wide-character type

## NAME

wchar\_t - wide-character type

## LIBRARY

Standard C library (*libc*)

## SYNOPSIS

```
#include <stddef.h>
```

**typedef** /\* ... \*/  **wchar\_t;**

**#include \<stdint.h\>**

**#define WCHAR\_WIDTH**  /\* ... \*/ **#define WCHAR\_MAX**    /\* ... \*/ **#define WCHAR\_MIN**    /\* ... \*/

## DESCRIPTION

*wchar\_t* is a type used for storing a wide character. It is an integer type.

## STANDARDS

C11, POSIX.1-2024.

## HISTORY

- *wchar\_t*

  SUSv1, C99, POSIX.1-2001.

- **WCHAR\_MAX** **WCHAR\_MIN**

  SUSv2, C99, POSIX.1-2001.

The **WCHAR\_WIDTH** macro was added in C23.

## NOTES

The following headers also provide this type: *\<inttypes.h\>*, *\<stdlib.h\>*, *\<wchar.h\>*, *\<wctype.h\>*.

The following header also provides these macros: *\<wchar.h\>*.

## SEE ALSO

[**wint\_t**(3type)](/wint_t/3type.md), [**fputwc**(3)](/fputwc/3.md)