python · serhiy-storchaka · Jun 26, 2026 · Jun 26, 2026
diff --git a/Doc/library/curses.rst b/Doc/library/curses.rst
@@ -952,13 +952,21 @@ Window objects
    ``(y, x)`` with attributes
    *attr*, overwriting anything previously on the display.
 
+   .. versionchanged:: next
+      *str* may now also be a :class:`complexstr`; see :meth:`addstr`.
+
 
 .. method:: window.addstr(str[, attr])
             window.addstr(y, x, str[, attr])
 
    Paint the character string *str* at ``(y, x)`` with attributes
    *attr*, overwriting anything previously on the display.
 
+   *str* may also be a :class:`complexstr`, in which case each cell carries its
+   own attributes and color pair, so *attr* must not be given.  A
+   :class:`complexstr` obtained from :meth:`in_wchstr` is written back
+   unchanged.
+
    .. note::
 
       * Writing outside the window, subwindow, or pad raises :exc:`curses.error`.
@@ -971,6 +979,9 @@ Window objects
         not calling :meth:`!addstr` with a *str* that has embedded newlines;
         instead, call :meth:`!addstr` separately for each line.
 
+   .. versionchanged:: next
+      *str* may now also be a :class:`complexstr`, as described above.
+
 
 .. method:: window.attroff(attr)
 
@@ -1428,6 +1439,9 @@ Window objects
    cursor are shifted right, with the rightmost characters on the line being lost.
    The cursor position does not change (after moving to *y*, *x*, if specified).
 
+   .. versionchanged:: next
+      *str* may now also be a :class:`complexstr`; see :meth:`insstr`.
+
 
 .. method:: window.insstr(str[, attr])
             window.insstr(y, x, str[, attr])
@@ -1437,6 +1451,12 @@ Window objects
    shifted right, with the rightmost characters on the line being lost.  The cursor
    position does not change (after moving to *y*, *x*, if specified).
 
+   *str* may also be a :class:`complexstr`, in which case each cell carries its
+   own attributes and color pair, so *attr* must not be given.
+
+   .. versionchanged:: next
+      *str* may now also be a :class:`complexstr`, as described above.
+
 
 .. method:: window.instr([n])
             window.instr(y, x[, n])
@@ -1465,6 +1485,25 @@ Window objects
    .. versionadded:: next
 
 
+.. method:: window.in_wchstr([n])
+            window.in_wchstr(y, x[, n])
+
+   Return a :class:`complexstr` of the styled cells extracted from the window
+   starting at the current cursor position, or at *y*, *x* if specified, and
+   stopping at the end of the line.  This is the variant of :meth:`instr` and
+   :meth:`in_wstr` that *keeps* each cell's attributes and color pair (those
+   methods strip the rendition).  If *n* is specified, at most *n* cells are
+   returned.  The maximum value for *n* is 2047.
+
+   The result can be written back unchanged with :meth:`addstr` (a read and a
+   re-write is a round-trip that preserves every cell's rendition).
+
+   This method is only available if Python was built against a wide-character
+   version of the underlying curses library.
+
+   .. versionadded:: next
+
+
 .. method:: window.is_cleared()
 
    Return the current value set by :meth:`clearok`.
@@ -1913,6 +1952,43 @@ Complex character objects
    .. versionadded:: next
 
 
+.. class:: complexstr(cells[, attr[, pair]])
+
+   A *complex character string* (or *complexstr*) is an immutable sequence of
+   styled wide-character cells -- the string counterpart of
+   :class:`complexchar` (as :class:`str` is to a single character).
+
+   If *cells* is a string, it is split into character cells (each a spacing
+   character optionally followed by combining characters), and *attr* (a
+   combination of the :ref:`WA_* attributes <curses-wa-constants>`) and *pair*
+   (a color pair number), if given, are applied to every cell.
+
+   Otherwise *cells* is an iterable whose items are themselves cells, each a
+   :class:`complexchar` or a string; each item then carries its own rendition,
+   and *attr* and *pair* must be omitted.
+
+   It is returned by :meth:`window.in_wchstr`, and accepted by
+   :meth:`window.addstr`, :meth:`~window.addnstr`, :meth:`~window.insstr` and
+   :meth:`~window.insnstr`, so a run read from a window can be written back
+   unchanged.
+
+   It behaves like an immutable sequence: ``len(s)`` is the number of cells,
+   ``s[i]`` is the *i*-th cell as a :class:`complexchar`, slicing and
+   concatenation produce new :class:`!complexstr` instances, and iterating
+   yields the cells.  :func:`str` returns the cells' text joined together, and
+   two complex character strings are equal when their cells all match.  It is
+   hashable.
+
+   To build or edit a run of cells, use an ordinary :class:`list` of
+   :class:`complexchar` (or strings); a :class:`!complexstr` is the immutable
+   form returned by a read.
+
+   This type is only available if Python was built against a wide-character
+   version of the underlying curses library.
+
+   .. versionadded:: next
+
+
 Constants
 ---------
 

@@ -148,6 +148,14 @@ curses
   :class:`~curses.complexchar`.
   (Contributed by Serhiy Storchaka in :gh:`152233`.)
 
+* Add the :class:`curses.complexstr` type, an immutable run of styled cells
+  (the string counterpart of :class:`~curses.complexchar`), and the window
+  method :meth:`~curses.window.in_wchstr` that returns one.  The string-cell
+  methods :meth:`~curses.window.addstr`, :meth:`~curses.window.addnstr`,
+  :meth:`~curses.window.insstr` and :meth:`~curses.window.insnstr` now also
+  accept a :class:`~curses.complexstr`.
+  (Contributed by Serhiy Storchaka in :gh:`152233`.)
+
 gzip
 ----
 

diff --git a/Lib/test/test_curses.py b/Lib/test/test_curses.py
@@ -469,6 +469,145 @@ def test_getbkgrnd(self):
         self.assertEqual(str(cc), ' ')
         self.assertTrue(cc.attr & curses.A_BOLD)
 
+    @requires_curses_func('complexstr')
+    def test_complexstr(self):
+        # A complexstr is an immutable run of styled wide-character cells: the
+        # string counterpart of complexchar (as str is to a single character).
+        cc = curses.complexchar
+        B = curses.A_BOLD
+        # Built from an iterable whose items are complexchar or str cells.
+        s = curses.complexstr([cc('A', B), 'b', cc('c')])
+        self.assertEqual(len(s), 3)
+        self.assertEqual(str(s), 'Abc')
+        # Indexing yields a complexchar carrying the cell's rendition.
+        self.assertIsInstance(s[0], curses.complexchar)
+        self.assertEqual(str(s[0]), 'A')
+        self.assertTrue(s[0].attr & B)
+        self.assertEqual(s[-1], cc('c'))
+        self.assertRaises(IndexError, lambda: s[3])
+        # Iteration walks the cells.
+        self.assertEqual([str(c) for c in s], ['A', 'b', 'c'])
+        # Slicing and concatenation produce new complexstr instances.
+        self.assertIsInstance(s[1:], curses.complexstr)
+        self.assertEqual(str(s[1:]), 'bc')
+        self.assertEqual(str(s[::-1]), 'cbA')
+        self.assertEqual(str(s + curses.complexstr(['Z'])), 'AbcZ')
+        # The empty complexstr.
+        self.assertEqual(len(curses.complexstr([])), 0)
+        self.assertEqual(str(curses.complexstr('')), '')
+        # Equality and hashing compare the cells (text, attributes, pair).
+        self.assertEqual(s, curses.complexstr([cc('A', B), 'b', cc('c')]))
+        self.assertEqual(hash(s),
+                         hash(curses.complexstr([cc('A', B), 'b', cc('c')])))
+        self.assertNotEqual(s, curses.complexstr([cc('A'), 'b', cc('c')]))
+        self.assertNotEqual(s, curses.complexstr([cc('A', B), 'b']))
+        # A spacing character optionally followed by combining characters.
+        if self._encodable('é'):
+            self.assertEqual(str(curses.complexstr(['é', 'x'])),
+                             'éx')
+        # cells is positional-only.
+        self.assertRaises(TypeError, lambda: curses.complexstr(cells=['x']))
+        # Invalid arguments.
+        self.assertRaises(TypeError, curses.complexstr, 5)
+        self.assertRaises(TypeError, curses.complexstr, [65])
+        self.assertRaises(ValueError, curses.complexstr, ['ab'])
+
+        # A string is split into character cells, grouping each base character
+        # with the combining characters that follow it (not one cell per code
+        # point), unlike a generic sequence whose items are each one cell.
+        self.assertEqual(len(curses.complexstr('abc')), 3)
+        self.assertEqual(str(curses.complexstr('abc')), 'abc')
+        self.assertEqual(len(curses.complexstr('')), 0)
+        base = 'é'  # 'e' + combining acute: two code points, one cell
+        if self._encodable(base):
+            self.assertEqual(len(curses.complexstr(base)), 1)
+            self.assertEqual(curses.complexstr(base)[0], cc(base))
+            self.assertEqual(len(curses.complexstr('a' + base + 'b')), 3)
+            # A combining character cannot begin a cell: one that leads the
+            # string, or overflows a base's combining slots, has no base.
+            self.assertRaises(ValueError, curses.complexstr, '\u0301')
+            self.assertRaises(ValueError, curses.complexstr, 'e' + '\u0301' * 10)
+            # A control character may stand alone but not carry combining marks.
+            self.assertRaises(ValueError, curses.complexstr, '\n\u0301')
+        # attr and pair apply to every cell of a string; pair is optional.
+        styled = curses.complexstr('hi', B, 0)
+        self.assertTrue(all(styled[i].attr & B for i in range(len(styled))))
+        self.assertEqual(curses.complexstr('x', B)[0], cc('x', B))
+        self.assertEqual(curses.complexstr('x', B, 0)[0], cc('x', B, 0))
+        # attr and pair may also be passed by keyword.
+        self.assertEqual(curses.complexstr('x', attr=B)[0], cc('x', B))
+        self.assertEqual(curses.complexstr('x', attr=B, pair=0)[0], cc('x', B, 0))
+        self.assertEqual(curses.complexstr('x', pair=0)[0], cc('x', 0, 0))
+        # cells is positional-only.
+        self.assertRaises(TypeError, lambda: curses.complexstr(cells='x'))
+        self.assertRaises(ValueError, curses.complexstr, 'a', 0, -1)
+        self.assertRaises(ValueError, lambda: curses.complexstr('a', pair=-1))
+        # For a non-string, giving attr/pair at all is an error (the cells
+        # carry their own rendition) -- even attr=0.
+        self.assertRaises(TypeError, curses.complexstr, [cc('A')], B)
+        self.assertRaises(TypeError, curses.complexstr, [cc('A')], 0)
+        self.assertRaises(TypeError, curses.complexstr, ['A'], 0, 0)
+        self.assertRaises(TypeError,
+                          lambda: curses.complexstr([cc('A')], attr=B))
+        self.assertRaises(TypeError,
+                          lambda: curses.complexstr(['A'], pair=0))
+
+    @requires_curses_window_meth('in_wchstr')
+    def test_in_wchstr(self):
+        # in_wchstr() returns a complexstr -- the styled-cell counterpart of
+        # instr() (bytes) and in_wstr() (str), which both strip the rendition.
+        stdscr = self.stdscr
+        cc = curses.complexchar
+        B = curses.A_BOLD
+        s = curses.complexstr([cc('A', B), cc('b'), cc('C', B)])
+        stdscr.addstr(0, 0, s)
+        r = stdscr.in_wchstr(0, 0, 3)
+        self.assertIsInstance(r, curses.complexstr)
+        # A read followed by a re-write is an exact round-trip.
+        self.assertEqual(r, s)
+        self.assertEqual(str(r), 'AbC')
+        self.assertTrue(r[0].attr & B)
+        self.assertFalse(r[1].attr & B)
+        # The count is optional and reads to the end of the line by default.
+        stdscr.move(0, 0)
+        self.assertEqual(str(stdscr.in_wchstr())[:3], 'AbC')
+
+    @requires_curses_window_meth('in_wchstr')
+    def test_complexstr_in_write_methods(self):
+        # addstr/addnstr/insstr/insnstr also accept a complexstr, written via
+        # the wide-character functions; a plain str keeps its current meaning.
+        stdscr = self.stdscr
+        cc = curses.complexchar
+        B = curses.A_BOLD
+        s = curses.complexstr([cc('A', B), cc('b'), cc('C', B)])
+        # addstr with a complexstr round-trips.
+        stdscr.addstr(0, 0, s)
+        self.assertEqual(stdscr.in_wchstr(0, 0, 3), s)
+        # addnstr writes at most n cells.
+        stdscr.addstr(2, 0, '....')
+        stdscr.addnstr(2, 0, s, 2)
+        self.assertEqual(str(stdscr.in_wchstr(2, 0, 4)), 'Ab..')
+        # insstr inserts the cells in order.
+        stdscr.move(3, 0)
+        stdscr.addstr('END')
+        stdscr.insstr(3, 0, curses.complexstr([cc('P'), cc('Q')]))
+        self.assertEqual(str(stdscr.in_wchstr(3, 0, 5)), 'PQEND')
+        # insnstr inserts at most n cells.
+        stdscr.move(4, 0)
+        stdscr.addstr('END')
+        stdscr.insnstr(4, 0, curses.complexstr(['1', '2', '3']), 2)
+        self.assertEqual(str(stdscr.in_wchstr(4, 0, 5)), '12END')
+        # An empty run is accepted (and still honours the move).
+        stdscr.addstr(5, 0, curses.complexstr([]))
+        stdscr.insstr(5, 0, curses.complexstr([]))
+        # Cells carry their own rendition, so an explicit attr is rejected.
+        self.assertRaises(TypeError, stdscr.addstr, s, B)
+        self.assertRaises(TypeError, stdscr.addnstr, s, 2, B)
+        self.assertRaises(TypeError, stdscr.insstr, s, B)
+        self.assertRaises(TypeError, stdscr.insnstr, s, 2, B)
+        # A bare sequence of cells is not accepted; build a complexstr first.
+        self.assertRaises(TypeError, stdscr.addstr, [cc('A'), 'b'])
+        self.assertRaises(TypeError, stdscr.insstr, [cc('A'), 'b'])
 
     def test_output_character(self):
         stdscr = self.stdscr

diff --git a/Misc/NEWS.d/next/Library/2026-06-26-11-20-00.gh-issue-152233.Kp7mQ2.rst b/Misc/NEWS.d/next/Library/2026-06-26-11-20-00.gh-issue-152233.Kp7mQ2.rst
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+Add the :class:`curses.complexstr` type, an immutable string of styled
+wide-character cells (the counterpart of :class:`curses.complexchar`), and the
+:mod:`curses` window method :meth:`~curses.window.in_wchstr` that returns one.
+The string-cell methods :meth:`~curses.window.addstr`,
+:meth:`~curses.window.addnstr`, :meth:`~curses.window.insstr` and
+:meth:`~curses.window.insnstr` now also accept a :class:`~curses.complexstr`.