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getpass(3)

NAME

     getpass -- get a password

LIBRARY

     Standard C Library (libc, -lc)

SYNOPSIS

     #include <pwd.h>
     #include <unistd.h>

     char *
     getpass(const char *prompt);

DESCRIPTION

     The getpass() function displays a prompt to, and reads in a password
     from, /dev/tty.  If this file is not accessible, getpass() displays the
     prompt on the standard error output and reads from the standard input.

     The password may be up to _PASSWORD_LEN (currently 128) characters in
     length.  Any additional characters and the terminating newline character
     are discarded.

     The getpass() function turns off character echoing while reading the
     password.

RETURN VALUES

     The getpass() function returns a pointer to the null terminated password.

FILES

     /dev/tty

SEE ALSO

     crypt(3), readpassphrase(3)

HISTORY

     A getpass() function appeared in Version 7 AT&T UNIX.

BUGS

     The getpass() function leaves its result in an internal static object and
     returns a pointer to that object.	Subsequent calls to getpass() will
     modify the same object.

     The calling process should zero the password as soon as possible to avoid
     leaving the cleartext password visible in the process's address space.

     Upon receipt of a SIGTSTP, the input buffer will be flushed, so any par-
     tially typed password must be retyped when the process continues.

FreeBSD 5.4			 June 4, 1993			   FreeBSD 5.4

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