+.PP
+Although \fBgetnstr\fP is equivalent to a series of calls to \fBgetch\fP,
+it also makes changes to the curses modes to allow simple editing of
+the input buffer:
+.bP
+\fBgetnstr\fP saves the current value of the \fBnl\fP, \fBecho\fP,
+\fBraw\fP and \fBcbreak\fP modes, and sets
+\fBnl\fP,
+\fBnoecho\fP,
+\fBnoraw\fP, and
+\fBcbreak\fP.
+.IP
+\fBgetnstr\fP handles the echoing of characters,
+rather than relying on the caller to set an appropriate mode.
+.bP
+It also obtains the \fIerase\fP and \fIkill\fP characters
+from \fBerasechar\fP and \fBkillchar\fP, respectively.
+.bP
+On return, \fBgetnstr\fP restores the modes to their previous values.
+.PP
+Other implementations differ.
+While they may set the \fIecho\fP mode,
+they do not modify the \fIraw\fP mode, and may take the \fIcbreak\fP
+mode set by the caller into account when deciding whether to handle
+echoing within \fBgetnstr\fP or as a side-effect of the \fBgetch\fP calls.
+Because ncurses sets these modes,
+its signal handlers for INTR and QUIT
+(e.g., \fB^C\fP or \fB^\\\fP) may catch a signal and stop the program,
+where other implementations allow one to enter those characters in the buffer.