NAME

     getpass - get a password

SYNOPSIS

     #include <pwd.h>

     char *getpass( const char * prompt );

DESCRIPTION

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

     The password may be up to 128 characters in length,  includ-
     ing  a trailing NUL.  Any additional characters and the ter-
     minating newline character are discarded.

     Getpass turns off character echoing and disables the genera-
     tion  of  signals  by  tty  special characters (interrupt by
     control-C, suspend by control-Z,  etc.)  while  reading  the
     password.

RETURN VALUES

     Getpass returns a pointer to the null terminated password.

FILES

     /dev/tty

SEE ALSO

     crypt(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 pos-
     sible to avoid leaving the cleartext password visible in the
     process's address space.