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     GETPASS(S)                UNIX System V                GETPASS(S)



     Name
          getpass - read a password

     Syntax
          char *getpass (prompt)
          char *prompt;

     Description
          The getpass function reads up to a new-line or EOF from the
          file /dev/tty after prompting on the standard error output
          with the null-terminated string prompt and disabling
          echoing.  A pointer is returned to a null-terminated string
          of at most 8 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.

     Files
          /dev/tty

     Warning
          The above routine uses <stdio.h>, which causes it to
          increase the size of programs not otherwise using standard
          I/O more than might be expected.

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

     Standards Conformance
          getpass is conformant with:
          AT&T SVID Issue 2, Select Code 307-127;
          and The X/Open Portability Guide II of January 1987.


                                             (printed 6/20/89)