std::basic_istream::ignore in C++ with Examples

Last Updated : 10 Jan, 2022

The std::basic_istream::ignore is used to extracts characters from the input string and discards them including delimiting character, i.e., if the end of the file is reached this function stops extracting characters. The delimiting character is the new line character i.e '\n'. This function will also stop extracting characters if the end-of-file is reached if the input is taken using a file. This function accesses the input sequence by first constructing a sentry object. It extracts characters from its associated stream buffer object and destroys the sentry object before returning.
Header File:

#include <iostream>

Syntax:

istream& ignore(size N,
            int delim = EOF);

Parameters: It accepts the following parameters:

N: It represent maximum number of characters to extract.
delim: It is used for where stop the extraction.

Return Values: It returns the basic_istream object.
Below are the programs to demonstrate basic_istream::ignore():
Program 1:

CPP

// C++ program to demonstrate
// basic_istream::ignore

#include <bits/stdc++.h>
using namespace std;

// Driver Code
int main()
{

    // Input String
    istringstream input(
        "12\n"
        "It is a string\n"
        "14\n");

    for (;;) {

        int n;

        // Taking input streamed string
        input >> n;

        // Check for end of file or if
        // any bad  bit occurs
        if (input.eof() || input.bad()) {
            break;
        }

        // If any failbit occurs
        else if (input.fail()) {

            // Clear the input
            input.clear();

            // Use ignore to stream the given
            // input as per delimiter '\n'
            input.ignore(
                numeric_limits<streamsize>::max(),
                '\n');
        }

        // Else print the integer in
        // the string
        else {
            cout << n << '\n';
        }
    }
    return 0;
}

Output:

12
14

Program 2:

CPP

// C++ program to demonstrate
// basic_istream::ignore

#include <bits/stdc++.h>
using namespace std;

// Driver Code
int main()
{

    char first, last;

    cout << "Enter a String: ";

    // Get one character
    first = cin.get();

    // Ignore string until space occurs
    cin.ignore(256, ' ');

    // Get one character
    last = std::cin.get();

    cout << "Your initials are "
         << first << ' '
         << last << '\n';

    return 0;
}