Thread: Kerningham Ritchie - example query

Below is a code snippet from Kerningham Ritchie book, chapter 8, section 8.2

#include "syscalls.h"
/* getchar: simple buffered version */
int getchar(void)
{

static char buf[BUFSIZ];
static char *bufp = buf;
static int n = 0;

if (n == 0) { /* buffer is empty */
n = read(0, buf, sizeof buf);
bufp = buf;
}
return (--n >= 0) ? (unsigned char) *bufp++ : EOF;

}

I am not understanding why the bytes returned by read function stored in int n should be stored in a static int variable? How will in that case subsequent calls to getchar work? The read function is invoked only when n is equal to zero.

Can someone please explain?

The first time you call the function, n is 0, so we go out to the operating system and get a whole pile of characters which we keep around in buf (since it's static, it will maintain value between calls). The next time through, we still have characters, so we return the next one (that's why bufp is incremented). Et cetera. Eventually, we will run out of characters (when n is 0), so we go out to the operating system and get another whole pile of characters. Lather, rinse, repeat.

OKay.. I understand now.. I was wondering why we get a whole value of character, and return only one at a time..it would require several getch() calls to return the whole buffer and after which only it would be able to take a new pile/single characters..

this is just a getch() implementation to get a character from the buffer..

thanks.