ISO/IEC 9,899:2011 clause 5--5.2.2 character display semantics

5.2.2 Character display semantics

1. The active position is the position on a display device, and the next character output by the FPUTC function will appear in that position. The intention of writing a print character (by the isprint function) to the display device is to display a graphical representation of that character at the active location, and then move the active position successively to the next position in the current row. The writing direction is region-specific. If the active location is at the last position of a row (if any), then the behavior of the display device is unspecified.

2. An alphabet escape sequence that represents non-graphic characters in the execution character set is intended to produce behavior on the display device, as follows:

\a( warning ) produces a audible or visible warning without changing the current active position.

\b( backspace ) moves the active position to the previous position of the current line. If the active position is in the initial position of a row, then the behavior of the display device is unspecified.

\f( page break ) moves the active position to the initial position at the beginning of the next logical page.

\ n( newline ) moves the active position to the initial position of the next line.

\ r( enter ) moves the active position to the initial position of the current row.

\ t( horizontal tab ) moves the active position to the next horizontal tab position on the current line. If the active location is or crosses the last position defined by the Horizontal tab position, then the behavior of the display device is unspecified.

\v( vertical tab ) moves the active position to the initial position of the next vertical tab position. If the active location is or crosses the last position defined by the Vertical tab position, then the behavior of the display device is unspecified.

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ISO/IEC 9,899:2011 clause 5--5.2.2 character display semantics