# phpman > man > PAM_PROMPT(3)

[PAM_PROMPT(3)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/PAMPROMPT/3/markdown)                             Linux-PAM Manual                             [PAM_PROMPT(3)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/PAMPROMPT/3/markdown)



## NAME
       pam_prompt, pam_vprompt - interface to conversation function

## SYNOPSIS
       **#include** **<security/pam**___**ext.h>**

       **int** **pam**___**prompt(pam**___**handle**___**t** *****_pamh_**,** **int** _style_**,** **char** ******_response_**,** **const** **char** *****_fmt_**,** _..._**);**

       **int** **pam**___**vprompt(pam**___**handle**___**t** *****_pamh_**,** **int** _style_**,** **char** ******_response_**,** **const** **char** *****_fmt_**,**
                       **va**___**list** _args_**);**

## DESCRIPTION
       The **pam**___**prompt** function constructs a message from the specified format string and arguments
       and passes it to the conversation function as set by the service. Upon successful return,
       _response_ is set to point to a string returned from the conversation function. This string is
       allocated on heap and should be freed.

## RETURN VALUES
       PAM_BUF_ERR
           Memory buffer error.

       PAM_CONV_ERR
           Conversation failure.

       PAM_SUCCESS
           Conversation succeeded, response is set.

       PAM_SYSTEM_ERR
           System error.

## SEE ALSO
       [**pam**(7)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/pam/7/markdown), **pam**___**[conv**(3)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/conv/3/markdown)

## STANDARDS
       The **pam**___**prompt** and **pam**___**vprompt** functions are Linux-PAM extensions.



Linux-PAM Manual                             06/08/2020                                [PAM_PROMPT(3)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/PAMPROMPT/3/markdown)