Data input and output

Single character input, single

character output, scanf, printf,
puts, gets, functions, interactive
programming.
 INPUT/OUTPUT FUNCTIONS
• There are numerous library functions
available for I/O, through which data can be
read from or written to files or standard I/O
devices.
• These library functions can be classified into
three broad categories:
a) Console I/O functions - functions to receive
input from keyboard and write output to
VDU.
b) Disk I/O functions - functions to perform
I/O operations on a floppy disk or hard disk.
c) Port I/O functions - functions to perform
I/O operations on various ports.
 Console Input/Output
functions
Formatted Functions Unformatted Functions
Type Input Output Type Input
Output
char scanf() printf() char getch()
putch()
getchar() putchar
getche()
int scanf() printf() int - -
float scanf() printf() float - -
string scanf() printf() string gets()
puts()
 Console Input/Output
functions
• The basic difference between formatted
and unformatted I/O functions is that the
formatted functions allow the
input read from the keyboard or
the output displayed on the VDU
to be formatted as per our
requirements.
• The two functions used for this purpose
are printf() and scanf()
 Formatted Console I/O
Functions
• scanf( ) allows us to enter data from the
keyboard that will be formatted in a certain
way.

The general form of scanf( ) statement is as

follows:
scanf(control string, arg1,
arg2.........argn);
• control string refers to a string containing
certain required formatting information,
• arg1, arg2,....argn are arguments that
represent the individual data items.
 Formatted Console I/O
Functions
• printf() translates internal values to character.
printf(control string, arg1,
arg2, ........argn )
The format string can contain:
• Characters that are simply printed as they are.
• Conversion specification that begins with a % sign.
• Escape sequences that begins with a \ sign.
• Printf() converts, formats, and prints its arguments on
the standard output under the control of the format.
• It returns the number of characters printed.
 Formatted Console I/O
Functions
• The format string contains two types of objects
– ordinary characters, which are copied to the output
stream,
– and conversion specifications,
• each of which causes conversion and printing of
the next successive argument to printf().
• Each conversion specification begins with % and
ends with a conversion character.
 Formatted Console I/O
•
Functions
If the character after the % is not a conversion
specification, the behavior is undefined.
 Unformatted Console I/O
Functions
• There are several standard library function
available under this category.
• These functions deals with a single character or
with a string of characters.
• The functions that can handle one character at
a time.
• a) Single Character Input - the getchar
Function
• b) Single Character Output - the putchar
Function
• c) String Input and String Output Function
 Unformatted Console I/O
Functions
Single Character Input - the getchar Function
• This function reads one character from the
keyboard after the new-line character is received
(when press Enter key).
• The function does not require any arguments,
though a pair of empty parentheses must follow
the word getchar.
• In general terms, getchar function is written as
character variable = getchar();
• Where character variable refers to some previously
declared character variable.
char ch;
ch = getchar ( ) ;
 Unformatted Console I/O
Functions
Single Character Output - the putchar Function :
• putchar(), the opposite of getchar(), is used to put
exactly one character on the screen.
• Putchar requires as an argument the character to put
on the screen.
• In general the putchar function is written as
putchar(character variable);
• where character variable refers to some previously
declared character variable
char ch;
ch = getchar ( ) ; /* input a character from
kbd*/
putchar (ch) ; /* display it on the screen
*/
 Unformatted Console I/O
Functions
String Input and String Output Function :
gets( ) - The gets( ) function receives a string from the
keyboard.
• The scanf( ) function has some limitations while receiving a
string of characters.
• The moment a blank character is typed, scanf( ) assumes
that the end of the data is being entered. So it is possible to
enter only one word string using scanf( ).
• To enter multiple words in to the string, the gets( ) function
can be used.
• In general terms, gets function is written as
gets(variable name);
• Where variable name will be a previously declared variable.
 Unformatted Console I/O
Functions
• puts( ) - The puts( ) function works exactly opposite to
gets( ) function.
• It outputs a string to the screen. Puts( ) can output a
single string at a time.
• In general terms, gets function is written as
puts(variable name);
• Where variable name will be a previously declared
variable.