---
name: "mbsinit"
section: "3"
platform: "freebsd"
package: "base"
version: "16.0-CURRENT-20261027-61c70dc16a79"
release: "FreeBSD 16.0-CURRENT (2026-10-27)"
platforms: ["linux", "freebsd", "macos"]
url: "https://carta.tech/man/mbsinit"
---

# mbsinit(3)

determine conversion object status

## NAME

**mbsinit** – determine conversion object status

## LIBRARY

Standard C Library (libc, -lc)

## SYNOPSIS

**#include \<wchar.h\>**

*int*\

**mbsinit**(*const mbstate\_t \*ps*);

## DESCRIPTION

The **mbsinit**() function determines whether the *mbstate\_t* object pointed to by *ps* describes an initial conversion state.

## RETURN VALUES

The **mbsinit**() function returns non-zero if *ps* is NULL or describes an initial conversion state, otherwise it returns zero.

## SEE ALSO

[mbrlen(3)](/man/mbrlen/3.md), [mbrtowc(3)](/man/mbrtowc/3.md), [mbsrtowcs(3)](/man/mbsrtowcs/3.md), [multibyte(3)](/man/multibyte/3.md), [wcrtomb(3)](/man/wcrtomb/3.md), [wcsrtombs(3)](/man/wcsrtombs/3.md)

## STANDARDS

The **mbsinit**() function conforms to ISO/IEC 9899:1999 (“ISO C99”).