---
name: "wctype"
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/wctype"
---

# wctype(3)

wide-character classification

## NAME

wctype - wide-character classification

## LIBRARY

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

## SYNOPSIS

```
#include <wctype.h>
```

**wctype\_t wctype(const char \****name***);**

## DESCRIPTION

The *wctype\_t* type represents a property which a wide character may or may not have. In other words, it represents a class of wide characters. This type's nature is implementation-dependent, but the special value *(wctype\_t) 0* denotes an invalid property. Nonzero *wctype\_t* values can be passed to the [**iswctype**(3)](/iswctype/3.md) function to actually test whether a given wide character has the property.

The **wctype**() function returns a property, given by its name. The set of valid names depends on the **LC\_CTYPE** category of the current locale, but the following names are valid in all locales.

-

  | | |
  | --- | --- |
  | "alnum" - | realizes the [**isalnum**(3)](/isalnum/3.md) classification function |
  | "alpha" - | realizes the [**isalpha**(3)](/isalpha/3.md) classification function |
  | "blank" - | realizes the [**isblank**(3)](/isblank/3.md) classification function |
  | "cntrl" - | realizes the [**iscntrl**(3)](/iscntrl/3.md) classification function |
  | "digit" - | realizes the [**isdigit**(3)](/isdigit/3.md) classification function |
  | "graph" - | realizes the [**isgraph**(3)](/isgraph/3.md) classification function |
  | "lower" - | realizes the [**islower**(3)](/islower/3.md) classification function |
  | "print" - | realizes the [**isprint**(3)](/isprint/3.md) classification function |
  | "punct" - | realizes the [**ispunct**(3)](/ispunct/3.md) classification function |
  | "space" - | realizes the [**isspace**(3)](/isspace/3.md) classification function |
  | "upper" - | realizes the [**isupper**(3)](/isupper/3.md) classification function |
  | "xdigit" - | realizes the [**isxdigit**(3)](/isxdigit/3.md) classification function |

## RETURN VALUE

The **wctype**() function returns a property descriptor if the *name* is valid. Otherwise, it returns *(wctype\_t) 0*.

## ATTRIBUTES

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

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

## STANDARDS

C11, POSIX.1-2008.

## HISTORY

POSIX.1-2001, C99.

## NOTES

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

## SEE ALSO

[**iswctype**(3)](/iswctype/3.md)