Thread: tell me the function of scanf();

  1. #1
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    Question tell me the function of scanf();

    what is scanf function
    can someone help me to explain it?

  2. #2
    The larch
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    I might be wrong.

    Thank you, anon. You sure know how to recognize different types of trees from quite a long way away.
    Quoted more than 1000 times (I hope).

  3. #3
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    scanf() is made to take input from the user. To give a simple example:

    Code:
    int a = 0;
    printf("Enter an integer: ");
    scanf("%d", &a);
    This short example declares an integer a, asks the user to enter an integer and waits until an integer is entered.

    Let's dissect the scanf(): it has two parts, separated by a comma:

    "%d": means that the input has to be interpreted as an integer. This is called a conversion character. You can also take "%c" which interpretes the input as a character ('a' or '#', or whatever). With "%s" you can input a whole string.

    &a: means that the value that was entered should be stored in the variable a. The & means "the address of". In this example we put the value in the address where a is pointing to. If this sounds like magic, read first about pointers and addresses.

    To summarize:

    scanf("%d", &a); takes an integer and puts it in the address of a.
    I hope you're a bit wiser now...
    Last edited by hilarius; 11-27-2009 at 09:59 AM. Reason: typo

  4. #4
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    Quote Originally Posted by hilarius View Post
    scanf() is made to take input from the user. To give a simple example:

    Code:
    int a = 0;
    printf("Enter an integer: ");
    scanf("%d", &a);
    This short example declares an integer a, asks the user to enter an integer and waits until an integer is entered.

    Let's dissect the scanf(): it has two parts, separated by a comma:

    "%d": means that the input has to be interpreted as an integer. This is called a conversion character. You can also take "%c" which interpretes the input as a character ('a' or '#', or whatever). With "%s" you can input a whole string.

    &a: means that the value that was entered should be stored in the variable a. The & means "the address of". In this example we put the value in the address where a is pointing to. If this sounds like magic, read first about pointers and addresses.

    To summarize:

    scanf("%d", &a); takes an integer and puts it in the address of a.
    I hope you're a bit wiser now...
    thx bro

  5. #5
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    Get familiar with unix/linux (especially man pages) or type in man scanf and see what you get.

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