# curs_extend 3x 2025-08-16 ncurses 6.5 Library calls

    curs_extend(3x)                  Library calls                 curs_extend(3x)

## NAME

           curses_version, use_extended_names - miscellaneous ncurses extensions

## SYNOPSIS

           #include <curses.h>

           const char * curses_version(void);
           int use_extended_names(bool bf);

## DESCRIPTION

           These  ncurses  extensions to the curses library do not fit easily into
           other functional categories.

### curses_version

           curses_version returns a pointer to a string containing  the  library's
           name  and  version  number,  including  its  patch  level,  for example
           "ncurses 6.5.20240720".

### use_extended_names

           use_extended_names configures  whether  the  library  recognizes  user-
           defined  or  nonstandard terminfo capability names that may be compiled
           into  terminal  type  descriptions   via   the   curs_terminfo(3x)   or
           curs_termcap(3x)  interfaces.   Normally  these names are available for
           use, since the essential decision is made through use  of  tic(1)'s  -x
           option  to  include  such  extensions  in  terminal  type descriptions.
           use_extended_names(FALSE)  prevents  ncurses  from  recognizing   these
           capabilities  to  ensure  compatibility  with  other implementations of
           curses.

## RETURN VALUE

           curses_version returns a constant string.

           use_extended_names returns the previous state  of  extended  capability
           name recognition, allowing you to save this property and restore it.

## NOTES

           The  pointer  returned  by  curses_version  corresponds  to  statically
           allocated memory; do not attempt to free(3) it.

## EXTENSIONS

           These functions are ncurses extensions,  and  are  not  found  in  SVr4
           curses, 4.4BSD curses, or any other previous curses implementation.

## PORTABILITY

           Applications employing ncurses extensions should condition their use on
           the visibility of the NCURSES_VERSION preprocessor macro.

## AUTHORS

           Thomas Dickey

## SEE ALSO

           ncurses offers several other extensions to the X/Open Curses API.

           curs_getch(3x),   curs_inopts(3x),   curs_mouse(3x),    curs_print(3x),
           curs_util(3x),    default_colors(3x),   define_key(3x),   keybound(3x),
           keyok(3x), new_pair(3x), resizeterm(3x), wresize(3x)

    ncurses 6.5                       2025-08-16                   curs_extend(3x)