# ncurses_start_color

(PHP 4 >= 4.0.7, PHP 5 < 5.3.0, PECL ncurses >= 1.0.0)

ncurses_start_color — Initializes color functionality

### Description

ncurses_start_color ( ) : int

Initializes color functionality in ncurses. This function must be called before any color manipulation functions are called and after ncurses_init() is called. It is good practice to call this function right after ncurses_init().

### Parameters

This function has no parameters.

### Return Values

Returns `0` on success, or `-1` if the color table could not be allocated or ncurses was not initialized.

### Examples

Example #1 Writing a string with a specified color to the screen

`<?php
ncurses_init();
// If the terminal supports colors, initialize and set active color
if (ncurses_has_colors()) {
ncurses_start_color();
ncurses_init_pair(1, NCURSES_COLOR_YELLOW, NCURSES_COLOR_BLUE);
ncurses_color_set(1);
}
// Write a string at specified location
ncurses_mvaddstr(10, 10, "Hello world! Yellow on blue text!");
// Flush output to screen
ncurses_refresh();
ncurses_end();
?>`

### See Also

- ncurses_can_change_color() - Checks if terminal color definitions can be changed
- ncurses_has_colors() - Checks if terminal has color capabilities