4 .

Input and Output

Whenever a program is written, it will mainly have certain input values from the users for which
the program will do some operations/calculations and its result will be displayed to the user.
There should be some devices to enter the value to the program (system or keyboard or files) and
there should be some devices to accept the result (system, screen or files). But C treats all these
devices as files and calls it as standard files. It terms input devices / input files as standard input
file or stdin file and output files as standard output file or stdout file. Like any other programs, C
programs can also have errors. When compiler encounters error, it displays them on the screen.
This error files are termed as standard error files or stderr file in C.

Standard input Program Standard output

device (Keyboard) device(Monitor)

Figure: Illustration of position of C program, input and output device units

Input : It is a process of feeding/transferring data from input devices into program. C provides a
set of built-in functions to read given input and feed it to the program as per requirement.

Output : It is a process of displaying/transferring data on screen, printer or in any files. C

provides a set of built-in functions to output required data.

The user inputs can be anything – may be integer values, float / double values, character/string
values. The code should be strong enough to accept any of these kinds of inputs from the user
and should able to differentiate its type. These entered input values are accepted by using the
functions like scanf(), getchar(), getche(), getch(), gets () etc. Similarly, the result of operations
inside the program can be anything from numbers to string. This can be displayed on the screen
using different output functions like printf(), putchar(), putch(), puts() etc. Both input and output
functions are defined in the header file stdio.h. Hence we need to add this preprocessor directive
before starting the main function in any C program.
The input/output functions are classified into two types :- Formatted and Unformatted functions

Formatted functions : Formatted functions allow input or output data to format according to
user's requirements. The input function scanf() and output function printf() are formatted
functions. The printf() is used to convert data stored in the program into a text stream for output
to the monitor, while scanf() is used to convert the text stream coming from keyboard to data
values and stored them in program variables.

4.1 Formatted I/O

Formatted Input: Formatted input refers to an input data that has been arranged in a particular
format. For example : Mohan, 24, 34.45

Compiled By : Deepak Kr Singh, Pradip Khanal

This line contains three types of data and must be read according to its format. The first part
should be read into a variable char, the second into int and the third into float. This is possible
using scanf() function and its general form is :

scanf("control string", arg1, arg2, ...., argn);

Where control string refers to a string containing certain formatting information of input data
item. It may include :

 Format specifications, consisting of a percentage sign (%), field width (optional) and a
conversion character. Format specification is the compulsory part of the control string.
 Blank, tab (\t) and new line (\n) characters. These are optional in control string. If these
are used in the control string to separate the different format specifications, they must be
entered consecutively while inputting the data but they will not be stored in memory.

Arguments arg1, arg2, .... argn are the arguments that represents the individual input data items.
The data items may be variables. Each variable name must be preceded by an ampersand (&)
(address operator) except string (array of characters) to denote memory address.

Inputting (scanning) integer numbers : The format specification for reading an integer looks
like %wd. It means, scanf function reads an integer number of field width w.
Example : This example illustrates different format specifications for reading integer numbers.
void main(){
int a,b;
printf("Enter an integer number:");
scanf("%d",&a);
printf("The read and stored value of a =%d",a);
printf("Enter another integer number:");
scanf("%3d",&b);
printf("The read and stored value of b =%d",b);
}
Output:
Enter a integer number:12567 ( No field width specified in format specification.)
The read and stored value of a =12567
Enter a integer number:12567 (Field width of 3 columns is specified. So value in first
The read and stored value of b=125 three field is read and stored in memory location specified

by &b.)

Compiled By : Deepak Kr Singh, Pradip Khanal

 Table : Format specifications for data input (scanf())

Basic format specification Data type Type of arguments

%c character Address of a character variable
%s string Name of the string variable
%d integer Address of an integer variable
%i decimal, octal or hexadecimal Address of an integer variable
integer
%u unsigned integer Address of an unsigned integer
variable
%f floating point Address of a floating point
variable
%e floating point Address of a floating point
variable
%g floating point Address of a floating point
variable
%E floating point Address of a floating point
variable
%G floating point Address of a floating point
variable
%ld, %li long integer Address of a signed long integer
variable
%lu unsigned long integer Address of a unsigned long
integer variable
%hd, %hi short integer Address of short integer variable
%hu unsigned short integer Address of a unsigned short
integer variable
%le, %lf, %lg double Address of a double precision
floating point variable
%Le, %Lf, %Lg long double Address of s long double variable
%o octal integer Address of an integer
%x hexadecimal integer Address of an integer
[...] string Name of string. [It is used to
read, string including white
space.]
Example: This example also illustrates different format specifications for scanning integer
numbers.
void main(){
int a, b;
printf("Enter two integer numbers:");
scanf("%3d%5d",&a,&b);
printf("\nThe read and stored value of a is =%d",a);

Compiled By : Deepak Kr Singh, Pradip Khanal

printf("\nThe read and stored value of b is =%d",b);
}
Output:
Run 1 : Enter two integer numbers:12 4678
The read and stored value of a is =12
The read and stored value of b is =4678

Run 2 : Enter two integer numbers:23459 678 (Only first 3 digits 123 are read and assigned to
The read and stored value of a is =234 a and remaining two digits are read and assigned
The read and stored value of b is =59 to b. Second 678 is ignored.)

Run 3 : Enter two integer numbers:123 1234567 (First number has 3 digits, it is read and
The read and stored value of a is =123 assigned to a. But 2nd number has 7 digits,
The read and stored value of b is =12345 only first five digits are read and stored in
memory location specified by &b.)

Inputting real numbers : Reading real number is easier than the integer number because it is
not required to specify the field width.

Example : This example also illustrates different format specifications for inputting different
type of real numbers.
void main(){
float a,b;
double x,y;
long double g,h;
printf("Enter values of a and b:");
scanf("%f%e",&a,&b);
printf("Value of a=%f and value of b=%e",a,b);
printf("\nEnter values of x and y:");
scanf("%1f%1f",&x,&y);
printf("\nValue of x=%1f and value of y=%1f",x,y);
printf("Enter value of g and h:");
scanf("%Lf%Lf",&g,&h);
printf("value of g=%Lf and value of h=%Lf",g,h);}

Compiled By : Deepak Kr Singh, Pradip Khanal

Output:
Enter values of a and b:123.456 12.34e-13
Value of a=123.456001 and value of b=1.234000e-12
Enter values of x and y:1234567890.12345678 1234.567e+123
Value of x=1234567890.1234567 and value of y=1.234567000000000030000000000000000000000e+126
Enter value of g and h:12345678901234.54321111 +1.1e+4932
Value of g=12345678901234.543211 and value of h=1.100000000000000000000000000000000000000e+4932

Inputting a character using scanf() : It can be done using getchar() function and scanf() also.

Example: This example illustrates reading of characters using scanf() function.

void main(){
char ch;
printf("\nEnter a character:");
scanf("%c",&ch);
printf("\nvalue of ch=%c",ch);
}
Output:
Enter a character:V
value of ch=V

Inputting strings : String is a sequence of characters. We use gets() to read a string. There are
three ways of reading strings using scanf() function. The first way is to use %ws format
specification.

Example : This example also illustrates different specifications for scanning strings.
void main(){
char str[50];
printf("Enter a string:");
scanf("%10s",str);
printf("Read string is=%s",str);
printf("Enter a string:");
scanf("%10s",str);
printf("Read string is=%s",str);
printf("Enter a string:");

Compiled By : Deepak Kr Singh, Pradip Khanal

scanf("%s",str);
printf("Read string is=%s",str);
}
Output:
Enter a string: AAAAAAAAAAAAAA
Read string is=AAAAAAAAAA (Only first 10 characters are read and stored in the array)
Enter a string:Nepal is a beautiful nation.
Read string is=Nepal (Only first word is read in spite of other characters in the field width. This )
is because scanf terminates reading at the encounter of any arbitrary white
space.)
Enter a string:aaaaaaaaaaaa (Reads all the characters until a white space is encountered in %s )
Read string is=aaaaaaaaaaaa format. But the numbers of characters must be less than 50.)

The great limitation of scanf function to read string is that it can't read the string having multiple
words because %s terminates reading at the encounter of any arbitrary white space. There are
different techniques to solve this problem. Another way to read string is to specify the field
width in %c format. Whose format specification is %wc. It means reading characters in the field
width w. When this format is used for reading a string, the system will wait until the wth
character is keyed in.

Example : This example illustrates the concept of reading strings using %wc format
specification.
void main(){
char str[50];
printf("Enter a string:");
scanf("%10c",str);
printf("Read string is:%s",str);
}
Output :
Run 1 : Enter a string: pppppppppppppppp (Reading only 1st 10 characters of given string)
Read string is: pppppppppp
Run 2 : Enter a string:Nepal is a beautiful nation. (Reading 1st 10 characters with white space
Read string is:Nepal is a characters also.)

Compiled By : Deepak Kr Singh, Pradip Khanal

The general format specification of another way of reading string are %[characters] and
%[^characters]. The specification%[character] means that only the characters specified within
the brackets are permissible in the input string. The reading of the string will be terminated at the
encounter of any other character in the input string. The specification %[^characters] means
exactly reverse of %[characters]. This means the characters specified after the circumflex (^)
are not permitted in the input string. The reading of the string will be terminated at the encounter
of one of these characters. The set of characters inside the brackets is called search set. String
with white spaces can be read using these specifications.

Example: Write a program to take input string from user. Your program should allow to input
uppercase letter only.

#include<stdio.h>
#include<conio.h>
int main(){
char str[30];
printf("Enter your name in uppercase:");
scanf("%[A-Z]",str);
printf("Your name is %s.",str);
getch();
return 0;
}
Output:

Run 1 : Enter your name in uppercase: RAM

Your name is RAM.

Run 2 : Enter your name in uppercase: RaM

Your name is R

Run 3 : Enter your name in uppercase: ram

Your name is

Example: Write a program to read a string with multiple word (i.e. with space) using scanf()
function and display on the screen.

#include<stdio.h>
#include<conio.h>

Compiled By : Deepak Kr Singh, Pradip Khanal

void main(){
char str[100];
printf("Enter your full name:");
scanf("%[^\n]",str);
printf("Your full name is %s.",str);
getch();
}
Output:

Enter your full name: Mohan raj shakya

Your full name is Mohan raj shakya.

Explanation : Only %s control string in scanf() function can't be used to read string with blank
spaces. It is possible by using %[^\n] specification. This tells the compiler to read a string until a
new line character is entered.

The search set for different purposes can be defined as follows:

 To read all decimal digits - %[0123456789] or %[0-9]

 To read all upper case characters - %[A-Z]
 To read all lower case characters - %[a-z]
 To read all decimal digits and alphabetic characters - %[0-9a-zA-Z]
 To read all digits from 1-5 and lower case characters from p to z - %[1-5p-z]

Example : Write a program to read some text from user. The reading process should continue
until user enters a character 'q' as input. Finally display entered text except character terminating
character q.

#include<stdion.h> Output:

#include<conio.h> Enter some text: Hello Mohan

q
void main(){
Your text is Hello Mohan
char str[100];
printf("Enter some text:");
scanf("%[^q]s",str);
printf("Your text is %s",str);
getch();}

Compiled By : Deepak Kr Singh, Pradip Khanal

Mixed Input : In a single call more than one of data can be read.

Example : This example illustrates the concept of reading mixed data input.

#include<stdio.h> Output:

#include<conio.h> Enter name, roll number and marks in B.E. entrance:Mohan 234 90.6

void main(){ Name=Mohan

char name[20]; Roll=234

Marks:90.6
int roll;

float marks;

printf("Enter name, roll number and marks in B.E. entrance:");

scanf("%s%d%f",name,&roll,&marks);

printf("Name=%s\nRoll=%d\nMarks=%f",name,roll,marks);

getch();}

Points to be cared while using scanf() functions are :

 Except control string each of the other arguments must be address of the a variable
(pointer).
 Format specifications must match the arguments in order.
 Input data item must be separated by any white space and must match the variables
receiving the input in the same order.
 When scanf() encounters as invalid value of the data item being read, the reading will be
terminated.
 While searching for a value, scanf() ignores all the white spaces like tabs, new line.
 Any unread data items in a line will be considered as a part of the data input line to the
next scanf() call.
 If field width is used, it should be large enough to the size of input data.

Formatted Output

Formatted output functions are used to display or store data in a particular specified format. It
can be accomplished by formatting output. For this purpose, there is well known library function
named printf() in stdio.h header file. Its general form looks like :

printf("control string",arg1,arg2,arg3.............,argn);

Compiled By : Deepak Kr Singh, Pradip Khanal

The control string may consists of formatting information such as:

 Characters that will be printed on the screen as they appear.

 Format specifications that define the output format for display of each item.
 Escape sequence characters such as \n, \t and \b.
 Any combinations of characters, format specifications and escape sequences.

The control string has the form :

%[flag][field width][.precision] conversation character

Flags : The flags may be -, +, 0, or # . A '-' flag is used to indicate data item to be left-justified. A
'+' flag is used to display sign (i.e. either positive or negative whatever data item has) to precede
each signed numerical data item. A '0' flag is used to indicate leading 0s to appear instead of
leading blanks in right justified data item whose minimum width is larger than the data item. The
flag '#' is used with %o or %x to indicate octal and hexadecimal items to be preceded by0 and
0x respectively. Similarly, the flag '#' is used with %e, %f or %g to enforce a decimal point in
floating point numbers, even if it is a whole number.

Field width : The field width is an integer which specifies the minimum number of characters or
digits to be displayed in output operation. If the number of characters in the corresponding data
item is less than the specified field width, then the data item will be preceded by enough leading
blanks to fill the specified field. If the number of characters in the data item exceeds the specified
field width, then the entire data item will be displayed.

Printing integer numbers : The general form of format specification for printing integer
number is %wd. This means integer number will be printed in w columns (field width) with
right justification.

Compiled By : Deepak Kr Singh, Pradip Khanal

Example : This example illustrates different format specifications for printing integer numbers.

void main()
{
int a=12345;
printf("\ncase 1=%d",a);
printf("\ncase 2=%i",a);
printf("\ncase 3=%15d",a);
printf("\ncase 4=%-15d",a);
printf("\ncase 5=%015d",a);
printf("\ncase 6=%-+15d",a);
printf("\ncase 7=%3d",a);
getch();}
Output:
case 1=1 2 3 4 5
case 2=1 2 3 4 5
case 3=_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 1 2 3 4 5 (with field width, default justification to right)
case 4=1 2 3 4 5_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ (Using flag - to make left alignment)
case 5=0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 3 4 5 (Using flag 0 to fill the blank before the number)
case 6=+ 1 2 3 4 5 (Number preceded by a + sign in left alignment)
case 7=1 2 3 4 5

Printing real numbers : The general form of format specification for printing real numbers is
%[Link]. This means the number will be printed in w columns (field width) on the screen with p
digits after the decimal point (precision) with right justification. The value, when displayed, is
rounded to p decimal places. The default precision is 6 decimal places. The number will be
displayed in the form [-] [Link]. The general form to print real number in exponential form is
%w.p e. The display takes the form [-] [Link][+-]xx. Where number of q's depend on p. The
default precision is 6. The field width w should satisfy the condition w>=p+7. The value
rounded off and printed in the field of w column with right justification.

Compiled By : Deepak Kr Singh, Pradip Khanal

Example : This example illlustrates different format specifications for printing real numbers.

void main(){

float n=123.9876;

printf("\ncase 1=%f",n);

printf("\ncase 1=%e",n);

printf("\ncase 1=%g",n);

printf("\ncase 1=%15.4f",n);

printf("\ncase 1=%-15.3f",n);

printf("\ncase 1=%015.4f",n);

printf("\ncase 1=%.8f",n);

printf("\ncase 8=%2.2f",n);

getch();

Output:

case 1=1 2 3 . 9 8 7 6 0 2 (Occupies minimum field width to print in f format)

case 2=1 . 2 3 9 8 7 6 e + 0 2 (Occupies minimum field to print e format)

case 3=1 2 3 . 9 8 8 (Occupies minimum field width to print in g format, vary n and observe various g format)

case 4=_ _ _ _ _ _ _ 1 2 3 . 9 8 7 6 (Occupies 15 columns, print n with 4 decimal places)

case 5=- 1 2 3 . 9 8 8 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ (Occupies 15 columns, print -n with left justification)

case 6=0 0 0 0 0 1 . 2 3 9 9 e + 0 2 (Prints in exponential form with 0 padding in leading blanks)

case 7= 1 2 3 . 9 8 7 6 0 2 2 3 _ _ _ (What happens when field width is not specified)

case 8=1 2 3 . 9 9 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ (What happens when w < required field width)

Printing a single character : The general form of format specification to print a single character
in a desired position on the screen looks like :

%wc . This means a character will be printed on the field width of w columns with right
justification.

Compiled By : Deepak Kr Singh, Pradip Khanal

Example : This example illustrates different format specifications for printing characters.

void main(){

char ch='a';

printf("\ncase 1=%c",ch);

printf("\n case 2=%10c",ch);

printf("\ncase 3=%-10c",ch);

Output :

case 1=a

case 2= a

case 3=a

Printing strings : Printing strings is similar to real numbers. The general form of printing string
on the screen in a field width of w columns in %[Link]. It will print first p characters of the string
in the specified field width with right justification.

Example : This example illustrates different format specifications for printing strings.

void main(){

char str[20]="I love Baglung.";

printf("\ncase 1=%s",str);

printf("\ncase 2=%18s",str);

printf("\ncase 3=%-18s",str);

printf("\ncase 4=%18.8s",str);

printf("\ncase 5=%18.9s",str);

printf("\ncase 6=%5s",str);

printf("\ncase 7=%.10s",str);

Compiled By : Deepak Kr Singh, Pradip Khanal

Output:

case 1=I_Love_Baglung.

case 2=_ _ _I_Love_Baglung.

case 3=I_Love_Baglung._ _ _

case 4=_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ I_Love_B

case 5=I_Love_Ba_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

case 6=I_love_Baglung._ _ _

case 7=I_Love_Bag_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Printing mixed data : More than one data type can be printed using function printf.

Example : This example illustrates the concept of printing mixed data.

void main(){

int n=12345;

float m=123.9876;

char ch='a';

char str[20]="I love Nepal";

printf("n=%7dm=%12.5fch=%-2cstr=%16s",n,m,ch,str);

Output :

n=_ _ 1 2 3 4 5 m = _ _ _ 1 2 3 . 9 8 7 6 0 c h = a

29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 5051 52 52 53 54 55 56

str=__I_love_Nepal

Compiled By : Deepak Kr Singh, Pradip Khanal

4.2 Character I/O

Single Character Input / Output : The macro getchar() reads a character from the standard
input device, while the macro putchar() writes a character to the standard output device.

Example : A program shows a single character input/output.

#include<stdio.h>
void main()
{char ch;
printf("Enter a character:");
ch=getchar();
printf("\nThe entered character is:");
putchar(ch);
getch();}
Output: Enter a character: b
The entered character is: b

String Input / Output : Functions gets and puts are used for inputting and outputting strings.
[Link] : The function accepts string variable (the name of string) as a parameter, and fills the
string with characters that are read from the keyboard, till a new line character is encountered (
i.e., until we pass the enter key). At the end the string, gets appends a null character and returns
the string. The new line character is not added to the string.

[Link] : puts displays the string stored in the string variable.

Example : #include<stdio.h>
#include<conio.h>
void main(){
clrscr();
char str[40];
printf("Enter your name:");
gets(str);
puts(str);
getch();}

Compiled By : Deepak Kr Singh, Pradip Khanal

Output: Enter your name: Mohan Raj
Mohan Raj

In this example stdio.h (standard input/output header file) is included for function printf().
Similarly, conio.h() (console input/out header file) for functions clrscr() and getch(). Function
clrscr clears the screen. Function getch() is a character input funcion and it waits until a
character is pressed on the keyboard. But it is not compulsory to include stdio.h() and conio.h in
the above example to run the program. str[40] means the size o string is 40 characters. Function
gets() read a sequence of characters from the standard input device and store them in string str.
In the sequence, the number of characters should not be greater then 39 because each string must
be terminated by a null character and one byte is for null character. Function puts displays the
string stored in the string str.

Interactive (Conversational) programming : Interaction means dialog between computer and

users or programmers. In interaction, computer asks the questions and the users provides the
answers, or vice versa. In C, such dialogues can be created by alternate use of the printf() and
scanf() functions.

Unformatted Function

Unformatted functions do not allow the user to read or display data in desired format. These type
of library functions basically deal with a single character or a string of characters. The functions
getchar(), putchar(), puts(), getch(), getche(), putch() are considered as unformatted functions.

getchar() and putchar()

The getchar() function reads a character from a standard input devices.

Syntax : character_variable = getchar();

The getchar() function makes wait until a key is pressed and then assigns this character to
character_variable.

The putchar() function displays a character to the standard output device.

Syntax : putchar(character_variable);

Example : Write a program to read a character from keyboard using getchar() function and
display on the screen using putchar() function.

int main(){
char gender;
printf("Enter gender M or F:");
gender=getchar();

Compiled By : Deepak Kr Singh, Pradip Khanal

printf("Your gender is:");
putchar(gender);
getch();
return 0;}
Output :

Enter gender M or F:M

Your gender is:M

Functions getch(), getche() and putch()

getch() : This is a function gets a character from keyboard but does not echo to the screen. It
allows a character to be entered without having to press the Enter key afterwards.

Syntax : character_variable=getch();

getche() : This is a function that gets a character from the keyboard and echoes to the screen. It
allows characters to be entered without having to press the Enter key afterwards.

Syntax : character_variable=getche();

putch() : This function prints a character onto the screen.

Syntax : putch(character_variable);

Example: Write a program to read two characters from keyboard: one using getch() & another
using getche() function and displays the characters using putch() function.

int main(){
char ch1, ch2;
printf("Enter 1st character:"); Output:

ch1=getch(); Enter 1st character:

printf("\nEnter 2nd character:"); Enter 2nd character:b

1st character: a
ch2=getch();
2nd character: b
printf("\n1st character: ");
putch(ch1);
printf("\n2nd character: ") ;
putch(ch2); getch();return 0;}

Compiled By : Deepak Kr Singh, Pradip Khanal

Functions gets() and puts()

gets() : The gets function is used to read string of text, containing white space, until a newline
character is encountered. It can be used as alternative function for scanf() function for reading
strings. Unlike scanf() function, it does not skip white space (i.e. It can be used to read multiple
words string).

Syntax : gets(string_variable);

puts() : This function is used to display the string on the screen.

Syntax : puts (string_variable);

Example : Write a program to read a string with multiple words (i.e. string with space) using
gets() function and display on the screen using puts() function.

int main()

char name[20];

printf("Enter your name:");

gets(name);

printf("Your name is: ");

puts(name);

getch();

return 0;}

Output:

Enter your name: Mohan shakya

Your name is: Mohan shakya

Compiled By : Deepak Kr Singh, Pradip Khanal

Formatted and Unformatted Input/Output

Unformatted Input/Output is the most basic form of input/output. Unformatted input/output

transfers the internal binary representation of the data directly between memory and the file.
Formatted output converts the internal binary representation of the data to ASCII characters
which are written to the output file. Formatted input reads characters from the input file and
converts them to internal form. Formatted I/O can be either "Free" format or "Explicit" format,
as described below.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Unformatted I/O

Unformatted input/output is the simplest and most efficient form of input/output. It is usually the
most compact way to store data. Unformatted input/output is the least portable form of
input/output. Unformatted data files can only be moved easily to and from computers that share
the same internal data representation. It should be noted that XDR (eXternal Data
Representation) files, described in Portable Unformatted Input/Output, can be used to produce
portable binary data. Unformatted input/output is not directly human readable, so you cannot
type it out on a terminal screen or edit it with a text editor.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Formatted I/O

Formatted input/output is very portable. It is a simple process to move formatted data files to
various computers, even computers running different operating systems, as long as they all use
the ASCII character set. (ASCII is the American Standard Code for Information Interchange. It is
the character set used by almost all current computers, with the notable exception of large IBM
mainframes.) Formatted files are human readable and can be typed to the terminal screen or
edited with a text editor.

However, formatted input/output is more computationally expensive than unformatted

input/output because of the need to convert between internal binary data and ASCII text.
Formatted data requires more space than unformatted to represent the same information.
Inaccuracies can result when converting data between text and the internal representation.

Compiled By : Deepak Kr Singh, Pradip Khanal