Returns information on the language or cultural area in a program's locale.
#include <nl_types.h> #include <langinfo.h>
char *nl_langinfo (Item) nl_item Item;
The nl_langinfo subroutine returns a pointer to a string containing information relevant to the particular language or cultural area defined in the program's locale and corresponding to the Item parameter. The active language or cultural area is determined by the default value of the environment variables or by the most recent call to the setlocale subroutine. If the setlocale subroutine has not been called in the program, then the default C locale values will be returned from nl_langinfo.
Values for the Item parameter are defined in the langinfo.h file.
The following table summarizes the categories for which nl_langinfo() returns information, the values the Item parameter can take, and descriptions of the returned strings. In the table, radix character refers to the character that separates whole and fractional numeric or monetary quantities. For example, a period (.) is used as the radix character in the U.S., and a comma (,) is used as the radix character in France.
| Category | Value of item | Returned Result |
| LC_MONETARY | CRNCYSTR | Currency symbol and its position. |
| LC_NUMERIC | RADIXCHAR | Radix character. |
| LC_NUMERIC | THOUSEP | Separator for the thousands. |
| LC_MESSAGES | YESSTR | Affirmative response for yes/no queries. |
| LC_MESSAGES | NOSTR | Negative response for yes/no queries. |
| LC_TIME | D_T_FMT | String for formatting date and time. |
| LC_TIME | D_FMT | String for formatting date. |
| LC_TIME | T_FMT | String for formatting time. |
| LC_TIME | AM_STR | Antemeridian affix. |
| LC_TIME | PM_STR | Postmeridian affix. |
| LC_TIME | DAY_1 through DAY_7 | Name of the first day of the week to the seventh day of the week. |
| LC_TIME | ABDAY_1 through ABDAY-7 | Abbreviated name of the first day of the week to the seventh day of the week. |
| LC_TIME | MON_1 through MON_12 | Name of the first month of the year to the twelfth month of the year. |
| LC_TIME | ABMON_1 through ABMON_12 | Abbreviated name of the first month of the year to the twelfth month. |
| LC_CTYPE | CODESET | Code set currently in use in the program. |
Note: The information returned by the nl_langinfo subroutine is located in a static buffer. The contents of this buffer are overwritten in subsequent calls to the nl_langinfo subroutine. Therefore, you should save the returned information.
| Item | Information needed from locale. |
In a locale where language information data is not defined, the nl_langinfo subroutine returns a pointer to the corresponding string in the C locale. In all locales, the nl_langinfo subroutine returns a pointer to an empty string if the Item parameter contains an invalid setting.
The nl_langinfo subroutine returns a pointer to a static area. Subsequent calls to the nl_langinfo subroutine overwrite the results of a previous call.
This subroutine is part of Base Operating System (BOS) Runtime.
The localeconv subroutine, rpmatch subroutine, setlocale subroutine.
Subroutines Overview, National Language Support Overview for Programming, and Understanding Locale Subroutines in AIX Version 4.3 General Programming Concepts: Writing and Debugging Programs.