Input / Output in C
SCP 1103
Programming C
Input/Output in C
C has no built-in statements for input or output.
A library of functions is supplied to perform these
operations. The I/O library functions are listed the
“header” file <stdio.h>.
You do not need to memorize them, just be familiar
with them.
Streams
All input and output is performed with streams.
A "stream" is a sequence of characters organized into
lines.
Each line consists of zero or more characters and ends
with the "newline" character.
ANSI C standards specify that the system must support
lines that are at least 254 characters in length (including
the newline character).
Types of Streams in C
Standard input stream is called "stdin" and is normally
connected to the keyboard
Standard output stream is called "stdout" and is
normally connected to the display screen.
Standard error stream is called "stderr" and is also
normally connected to the screen.
Formatted Output with printf
printf ( ) ;
This function provides for formatted output to the
screen.
The syntax is:
printf ( “format”, var1, var2, … ) ;
The “format” includes a listing of the data types of the
variables to be output and, optionally, some text and
control character(s).
Example:
float a ; int b ;
scanf ( “%f%d”, &a, &b ) ;
printf ( “You entered %f and %d \n”, a, b ) ;
Input/Output in C
Example:
printf(“Thank you”);
printf(“Total sum is: %d\n”, SUM);
%d is a placeholder (format specifier)
marks the display position for a type integer variable
\n is an escape sequence
moves the cursor to the new line
Formatted Output with printf
Format specifier (placeholder)
Tells the printf() function the format of the output to be
printed put.
Format
Output Type
Specifier
%d for integers
%c for characters
%f, %lf for floating-point values in conventional
notation
%e for floating-point values in scientific
notation
%s for sequence of characters (string)
Input/Output in C
Examples
Output statements Prints on the screen
printf(“%d”, 15); 15
printf(“Hello”); Hello
printf(“%s”, “Hello”); Hello
printf(“%c”, ‘a’); a
printf(“%f”, 1.25); 1.250000
printf(“%e”, 1.25); 1.250000e+00
printf(“%s”, name); John D
(assume name[20]=“John
D”)
Input/Output in C
Escape Sequence
is used in the printf() function to do something to the
output.
The common escape Escape
Meaning
sequence Sequence
… and more \n New line
\t Horizontal tab
\v Vertical tab
\b Backspace
\0 NULL
\\ Prints a
backslash (\)
Input/Output in C
scanf ( ) ;
This function provides for formatted input from the
keyboard.
The syntax is:
scanf ( “format” , &var1, &var2, …) ;
The “format” is a listing of the data types of the
variables to be input and the & in front of each
variable name tells the system WHERE to store the
value that is input. It provides the address for the
variable.
Example:
float a; int b;
scanf (“%f%d”, &a, &b);
Input/Output in C
Common format specifier used in printf() and
scanf() functions.
printf scanf
int %d %d
float %f %f
double %f %lf
char %c %c
string %s %s
Input/Output in C
Example
#include <stdio.h>
main()
{
int Age;
printf(“Enter your age: “);
scanf(“%d”, &Age);
printf(“Your age is: %d”,Age);
}
Output?
Input/Output in C
If you want the user to enter more than one value, you
serialise the inputs.
Example:
…
float height, weight;
printf(Please enter your height and
weight“:”);
scanf(“%f%f”, &height, &weight);
…
Input/Output in C
getchar ( ) ;
This function provides for getting exactly one
character from the keyboard.
Example:
char ch;
ch = getchar ( ) ;
Input/Output in C
putchar (char) ;
This function provides for printing exactly one
character to the screen.
Example:
char ch;
ch = getchar ( ) ; /* input a character from kbd*/
putchar (ch) ; /* display it on the screen */
Input/Output in C
getchar() - read a character from standard input
putchar() - write a character to standard output
Example:
#include <stdio.h>
main()
{
char my_char;
printf(“Please type a character: “);
my_char = getchar();
printf(“\nYou have typed this character: “);
putchar(my_char);
printf(“\n”);
}
Input/Output in C
getc ( *file ) ;
This function is similar to getchar( ) except the input
can be from the keyboard or a file.
Example:
char ch;
ch = getc (stdin) ; /* input from keyboard */
ch = getc (fileptr) ; /* input from a file */
Input/Output in C
putc ( char, *file ) ;
This function is similar to putchar ( ) except the output
can be to the screen or a file.
Example:
char ch;
ch = getc (stdin) ; /* input from keyboard */
putc (ch, stdout) ; /* output to the screen */
putc (ch, outfileptr) ; /*output to a file */
Today’s Assignment
1. Write a complete C program to prompt a user for
input the quantity of each items, receive the input, do
a calculation and print the input and the answer on
the screen based on table item below.
Item Price / Item
Book RM 12.50
Pencil RM 0.80
Multifunction paper RM 10.50
Then modify the program to add another calculation
and display the new result.
