Console.TreatControlCAsInput Property

Definition

Gets or sets a value indicating whether the combination of the Control modifier key and C console key (Ctrl+C) is treated as ordinary input or as an interruption that is handled by the operating system.

C#
[System.Runtime.Versioning.UnsupportedOSPlatform("android")]
[System.Runtime.Versioning.UnsupportedOSPlatform("browser")]
[System.Runtime.Versioning.UnsupportedOSPlatform("ios")]
[System.Runtime.Versioning.UnsupportedOSPlatform("tvos")]
public static bool TreatControlCAsInput { get; set; }
C#
[System.Runtime.Versioning.UnsupportedOSPlatform("browser")]
public static bool TreatControlCAsInput { get; set; }
C#
public static bool TreatControlCAsInput { get; set; }

Property Value

true if Ctrl+C is treated as ordinary input; otherwise, false.

Attributes

Exceptions

Unable to get or set the input mode of the console input buffer.

Examples

The following example demonstrates the TreatControlCAsInput property.

C#
using System;

class Example
{
   public static void Main()
   {
      ConsoleKeyInfo cki;
      // Prevent example from ending if CTL+C is pressed.
      Console.TreatControlCAsInput = true;

      Console.WriteLine("Press any combination of CTL, ALT, and SHIFT, and a console key.");
      Console.WriteLine("Press the Escape (Esc) key to quit: \n");
      do
      {
         cki = Console.ReadKey();
         Console.Write(" --- You pressed ");
         if((cki.Modifiers & ConsoleModifiers.Alt) != 0) Console.Write("ALT+");
         if((cki.Modifiers & ConsoleModifiers.Shift) != 0) Console.Write("SHIFT+");
         if((cki.Modifiers & ConsoleModifiers.Control) != 0) Console.Write("CTL+");
         Console.WriteLine(cki.Key.ToString());
       } while (cki.Key != ConsoleKey.Escape);
    }
}
// This example displays output similar to the following:
//       Press any combination of CTL, ALT, and SHIFT, and a console key.
//       Press the Escape (Esc) key to quit:
//
//       a --- You pressed A
//       k --- You pressed ALT+K
//       ► --- You pressed CTL+P
//         --- You pressed RightArrow
//       R --- You pressed SHIFT+R
//                --- You pressed CTL+I
//       j --- You pressed ALT+J
//       O --- You pressed SHIFT+O
//       § --- You pressed CTL+U

Remarks

If the value of the TreatControlCAsInput property is false and Ctrl+C is pressed, the pressed keys are not stored in the input buffer and the operating system terminates the currently executing process. This is the default value.

Caution

Use this property judiciously because setting it to true has such a dramatic effect. Most users expect Ctrl+C to terminate a console application. If you disable the effect of Ctrl+C, the user must remember to use Ctrl+Break to terminate the application, which is a less familiar key combination.

Applies to

Product Versions
.NET Core 1.0, Core 1.1, Core 2.0, Core 2.1, Core 2.2, Core 3.0, Core 3.1, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10
.NET Framework 2.0, 3.0, 3.5, 4.0, 4.5, 4.5.1, 4.5.2, 4.6, 4.6.1, 4.6.2, 4.7, 4.7.1, 4.7.2, 4.8, 4.8.1
.NET Standard 1.3, 1.4, 1.6, 2.0, 2.1

See also