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     GETPASSWD(S)              UNIX System V              GETPASSWD(S)



     Name
          getpasswd - read or clear a password

     Syntax
          #include <sys/types.h>
          #include <sys/security.h>
          #include <sys/audit.h>
          #include <prot.h>

          char *getpasswd (prompt, max_size)
          char *prompt;
          int max_size;

          (void) getpasswd ((char *) 0, max_size)
          char *prompt;
          int max_size;

     Description
          Getpasswd, when given a non-NULL and null-terminated prompt,
          reads up to a newline or EOF from the file /dev/tty, after
          prompting on the standard error output with prompt and
          disabling echoing.  A pointer is returned to a null-
          terminated string of at most max_size characters.  If
          /dev/tty cannot be opened, a NULL pointer is returned.  An
          interrupt will terminate input and send an interrupt signal
          to the calling program before returning.

          The returned pointer above points to a static area.  As soon
          as that password is no longer needed, getpasswd should again
          be invoked with a NULL prompt string.  That will clear the
          password in the static area so that there is no chance of
          `dirty memory' revealing passwords later on.

          The standardgetpass(S) routine may be implemented as:

               char *
               getpass (prompt)
               char *prompt;
               {
                       return getpasswd(prompt, 8);
               }

     Files
          /dev/tty

     See Also
          getpass(S)

     Notes
          The return value points to static data whose content is
          overwritten by each call.

     Value Added
          getpasswd is an extension of AT&T System V provided by the
          Santa Cruz Operation.

                                             (printed 6/20/89)