cin stream

I am new to c++, so I am still trying to figure out the basics.

When using the cin stream to input information from the console, why does the program always terminate when I press the Enter key?

What is the exact function of the cin stream?


Or just in a simple "Hello World" program, why do I have to create some sort of pause to stop the program from terminating before I can even see the output, "Hello World"?

Originally Posted by RaisinToe

When using the cin stream to input information from the console, why does the program always terminate when I press the Enter key?

Because you have not read the FAQ

Originally Posted by RaisinToe

What is the exact function of the cin stream?

To allow you to read from standard input, which in this case means keyboard input to the console.

Oh . . . thank you.

Too often, in other web sites, I have gone to the FAQs, and they have nothing that I care to know. But that's not the case here.


Hmm, making a simple pause still looks like a lot of work.

There was one command I saw that created a simple pause. It was this:

Code:

char pause[100];
cin.getline(pause,100);

although it still has to use a premade function getline.

Originally Posted by RaisinToe

although it still has to use a premade function getline.

Of course. Since you are using cin, you are bound to use some of the functions supplied by std::istream (i.e., the std::cin's type).

That said, instead of creating a temporary array, it would be easier to write:

Code:

cin.ignore(100, '\n');
cin.get();

Or more properly, you could #include <limits> and write:

Code:

cin.ignore(numeric_limits<streamsize>::max(), '\n');
cin.get();

However, better ways include running the program from the command prompt or from an IDE that pauses the program for you.