@@ -653,6 +653,131 @@ Windows and pads
    is to be displayed.
 
 
+Soft labels
+~~~~~~~~~~~
+
+.. _curses-slk:
+
+The following functions manage *soft-label keys*, a row of labels displayed
+along the bottom line of the screen, typically used to label a row of function
+keys.  :func:`slk_init` must be called before :func:`initscr` or
+:func:`newterm`; it takes one screen line away from the standard window for the
+labels.
+
+
+.. function:: slk_init(fmt=0)
+
+   Reserve a screen line for the soft labels and choose their layout.  *fmt*
+   selects the arrangement: ``0`` for 3-2-3 (eight labels), ``1`` for 4-4
+   (eight labels).  Where the underlying curses library supports them, ``2``
+   gives 4-4-4 (twelve labels) and ``3`` gives 4-4-4 with an index line.
+
+   Must be called before :func:`initscr` or :func:`newterm`.
+
+   .. versionadded:: next
+
+
+.. function:: slk_set(labnum, label, justify)
+
+   Set the text of soft label number *labnum*, in the range ``1`` through ``8``
+   (or ``12`` in a twelve-label layout).  *justify* controls how *label* is
+   placed within the label: ``0`` for left, ``1`` for centered, ``2`` for right.
+
+   .. versionadded:: next
+
+
+.. function:: slk_label(labnum)
+
+   Return the current text of soft label number *labnum*, justified as it was
+   set, or an empty string if it has no label.
+
+   .. versionadded:: next
+
+
+.. function:: slk_refresh()
+
+   Update the soft labels on the physical screen, like
+   :meth:`~curses.window.refresh` for a window.
+
+   .. versionadded:: next
+
+
+.. function:: slk_noutrefresh()
+
+   Update the soft labels on the virtual screen, like
+   :meth:`window.noutrefresh`.  Use it together with :func:`doupdate` to batch
+   screen updates.
+
+   .. versionadded:: next
+
+
+.. function:: slk_clear()
+
+   Remove the soft labels from the screen.
+
+   .. versionadded:: next
+
+
+.. function:: slk_restore()
+
+   Restore the soft labels to the screen after a :func:`slk_clear`.
+
+   .. versionadded:: next
+
+
+.. function:: slk_touch()
+
+   Force all the soft labels to be redrawn by the next :func:`slk_refresh` or
+   :func:`slk_noutrefresh`.
+
+   .. versionadded:: next
+
+
+.. function:: slk_attron(attr)
+              slk_attroff(attr)
+              slk_attrset(attr)
+
+   Add, remove, or set the attributes used to display the soft labels, given as
+   packed ``A_*`` attributes.
+
+   .. versionadded:: next
+
+
+.. function:: slk_attr()
+
+   Return the current attributes of the soft labels as packed ``A_*``
+   attributes.  Availability depends on the underlying curses library.
+
+   .. versionadded:: next
+
+
+.. function:: slk_attr_on(attr)
+              slk_attr_off(attr)
+
+   Turn the given attributes on or off without affecting any others.  Like the
+   ``attr_*`` window methods, these work with the
+   :ref:`WA_* attributes <curses-wa-constants>` rather than packed ``A_*``
+   attributes.
+
+   .. versionadded:: next
+
+
+.. function:: slk_attr_set(attr, pair=0)
+
+   Set the attributes and color pair of the soft labels.  *attr* is given as
+   :ref:`WA_* attributes <curses-wa-constants>` and *pair* as a color pair
+   number.
+
+   .. versionadded:: next
+
+
+.. function:: slk_color(pair)
+
+   Set the color pair of the soft labels to color pair number *pair*.
+
+   .. versionadded:: next
+
+
 Saving and restoring
 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
 
@@ -182,6 +182,18 @@ curses
   :func:`~curses.scr_set`, which dump the whole screen to a file and restore it.
   (Contributed by Serhiy Storchaka in :gh:`152260`.)
 
+* Add the soft-label-key functions to the :mod:`curses` module, which manage a
+  row of labels along the bottom line of the screen:
+  :func:`~curses.slk_init`, :func:`~curses.slk_set`, :func:`~curses.slk_label`,
+  :func:`~curses.slk_refresh`, :func:`~curses.slk_noutrefresh`,
+  :func:`~curses.slk_clear`, :func:`~curses.slk_restore`,
+  :func:`~curses.slk_touch`, the attribute functions
+  :func:`~curses.slk_attron`, :func:`~curses.slk_attroff`,
+  :func:`~curses.slk_attrset`, :func:`~curses.slk_attr`,
+  :func:`~curses.slk_attr_on`, :func:`~curses.slk_attr_off`,
+  :func:`~curses.slk_attr_set`, and :func:`~curses.slk_color`.
+  (Contributed by Serhiy Storchaka in :gh:`152263`.)
+
 * Add the :func:`curses.term_attrs` function, which returns the supported
   video attributes as :ref:`WA_* <curses-wa-constants>` values, the
   counterpart of :func:`curses.termattrs`.
 
@@ -2843,16 +2843,12 @@ def test_move_down(self):
         self.mock_win.reset_mock()
 
 
-@unittest.skipUnless(hasattr(curses, 'newterm'), 'requires curses.newterm()')
-@unittest.skipIf(not term or term == 'unknown',
-                 "$TERM=%r, newterm() may not work" % term)
-@unittest.skipIf(sys.platform == "cygwin",
-                 "cygwin's curses mostly just hangs")
-class ScreenTests(unittest.TestCase):
-    # newterm()/set_term() mutate global curses state, but each test drives its
-    # own pseudo-terminal(s) and never touches the screen shared by TestCurses,
-    # whose setUp() makes that screen current again.  So these can run in this
-    # process, without a real terminal and without a subprocess.
+class NewtermTestBase(unittest.TestCase):
+    # Shared plumbing for tests that drive newterm() over their own
+    # pseudo-terminal(s).  newterm()/set_term() mutate global curses state, but
+    # each test never touches the screen shared by TestCurses, whose setUp()
+    # makes that screen current again.  So these can run in this process,
+    # without a real terminal and without a subprocess.
 
     def setUp(self):
         # newterm() may install signal handlers; restore them afterwards.
@@ -2906,6 +2902,14 @@ def stop_reader():
         self.addCleanup(stop_reader)
         return slave
 
+
+@unittest.skipUnless(hasattr(curses, 'newterm'), 'requires curses.newterm()')
+@unittest.skipIf(not term or term == 'unknown',
+                 f"$TERM={term!r}, newterm() may not work")
+@unittest.skipIf(sys.platform == "cygwin",
+                 "cygwin's curses mostly just hangs")
+class ScreenTests(NewtermTestBase):
+
     def test_newterm(self):
         s = self.make_pty()
         screen = curses.newterm('xterm', s, s)
@@ -2979,5 +2983,100 @@ def test_disallow_instantiation(self):
         check_disallow_instantiation(self, curses.screen)
 
 
+@unittest.skipUnless(hasattr(curses, 'slk_init'), 'requires curses.slk_init()')
+@unittest.skipUnless(hasattr(curses, 'newterm'), 'requires curses.newterm()')
+@unittest.skipIf(not term or term == 'unknown',
+                 f"$TERM={term!r}, newterm() may not work")
+@unittest.skipIf(sys.platform == "cygwin",
+                 "cygwin's curses mostly just hangs")
+class SLKTests(NewtermTestBase):
+    # Soft-label keys reserve the bottom screen line for a row of labels.
+    # slk_init() must run before newterm()/initscr(), so each test sets up its
+    # own screen rather than reusing the one TestCurses builds in setUp().
+
+    def make_slk_screen(self, fmt=0):
+        s = self.make_pty()
+        curses.slk_init(fmt)
+        return curses.newterm('xterm', s, s)
+
+    def test_init_reserves_a_line(self):
+        # Every layout takes the bottom line for the labels; the index-line
+        # layout (3) takes a second line for the index.  Layouts 0 and 1 are
+        # standard; 2 and 3 are ncurses extensions that other curses
+        # implementations reject (slk_init() then returns an error).
+        ncurses = hasattr(curses, 'ncurses_version')
+        for fmt, lines in [(0, 23), (1, 23), (2, 23), (3, 22)]:
+            with self.subTest(fmt=fmt):
+                try:
+                    screen = self.make_slk_screen(fmt)
+                except curses.error:
+                    if ncurses or fmt < 2:
+                        raise
+                    continue
+                self.assertEqual(screen.stdscr.getmaxyx()[0], lines)
+                curses.endwin()
+
+    def test_init_bad_format(self):
+        for fmt in (-1, 4):
+            self.assertRaises(ValueError, curses.slk_init, fmt)
+
+    def test_set_and_label(self):
+        self.make_slk_screen()
+        curses.slk_set(1, 'Help', 0)
+        curses.slk_set(2, 'Save', 1)
+        curses.slk_set(3, 'Quit', 2)
+        self.assertEqual(curses.slk_label(1), 'Help')
+        self.assertEqual(curses.slk_label(2), 'Save')
+        self.assertEqual(curses.slk_label(3), 'Quit')
+
+    def test_set_wide(self):
+        screen = self.make_slk_screen()
+        label = 'Ångström'
+        try:
+            label.encode(screen.stdscr.encoding)
+        except UnicodeEncodeError:
+            self.skipTest('the locale cannot encode %r' % label)
+        curses.slk_set(1, label, 0)
+        self.assertEqual(curses.slk_label(1), label)
+
+    def test_set_bad_justify(self):
+        self.make_slk_screen()
+        for justify in (-1, 3):
+            self.assertRaises(ValueError, curses.slk_set, 1, 'x', justify)
+
+    def test_refresh(self):
+        self.make_slk_screen()
+        curses.slk_set(1, 'Help', 0)
+        curses.slk_noutrefresh()
+        curses.slk_refresh()
+        curses.slk_clear()
+        curses.slk_restore()
+        curses.slk_touch()
+
+    def test_attributes(self):
+        self.make_slk_screen()
+        curses.slk_attron(curses.A_BOLD)
+        curses.slk_attrset(curses.A_UNDERLINE)
+        curses.slk_attroff(curses.A_BOLD)
+        if hasattr(curses, 'slk_attr'):
+            self.assertIsInstance(curses.slk_attr(), int)
+
+    def test_attr_on_off(self):
+        self.make_slk_screen()
+        curses.slk_attr_on(curses.A_BOLD)
+        curses.slk_attr_off(curses.A_BOLD)
+
+    def test_color(self):
+        # slk_attr_set() and slk_color() act on a color pair, so the color
+        # subsystem must be started first.
+        self.make_slk_screen()
+        if not curses.has_colors():
+            self.skipTest('requires colors support')
+        curses.start_color()
+        curses.slk_attr_set(curses.A_BOLD)
+        curses.slk_attr_set(curses.A_BOLD, 0)
+        curses.slk_color(0)
+
+
 if __name__ == '__main__':
     unittest.main()
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+Add the soft-label-key functions to the :mod:`curses` module:
+:func:`~curses.slk_init`, :func:`~curses.slk_set`, :func:`~curses.slk_label`,
+:func:`~curses.slk_refresh`, :func:`~curses.slk_noutrefresh`,
+:func:`~curses.slk_clear`, :func:`~curses.slk_restore`,
+:func:`~curses.slk_touch`, :func:`~curses.slk_attron`,
+:func:`~curses.slk_attroff`, :func:`~curses.slk_attrset`,
+:func:`~curses.slk_attr`, :func:`~curses.slk_attr_on`,
+:func:`~curses.slk_attr_off`, :func:`~curses.slk_attr_set` and
+:func:`~curses.slk_color`.