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GETPASS(3) FreeBSD Library Functions Manual 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
partially typed password must be retyped when the process continues.
FreeBSD 14.0-RELEASE-p11 June 4, 1993 FreeBSD 14.0-RELEASE-p11