EOF value and getchar

**Sharifhs** · 08-12-2010

What does mean EOF has a value of -1?

I cant understand this program especially the if statement even reading (related programs) from several books-

Code:

#include <stdio.h>

main()
{
 int c;
 c = getchar();                         read a character
 while (c != EOF) {                     while (charater is not end-of-file indicator)
  putchar(c);                           output the character just read
  c = getchar();                        read a character
 }
}

**laserlight** · 08-12-2010

getchar() normally returns a character as an unsigned char converted to int. EOF, being a negative integer, is therefore outside of this normal range of values.

**Sharifhs** · 08-12-2010

Originally Posted by laserlight

getchar() normally returns a character as an unsigned char converted to int. EOF, being a negative integer, is therefore outside of this normal range of values.

What is an unsigned character? I've read about EOF but can't yet understand well

**laserlight** · 08-12-2010

unsigned means non-negative, because there is no negative sign to cater to.

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EOF value and getchar