Thread: Strange behaviour of scanf()

  1. #1
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    Strange behaviour of scanf()

    This was most unexpected. I have a big program which was behaving strangely so I decided to test out each section. I wrote a small program as shown below:

    Code:
    #include <stdio.h>
    
    int main() {
    	
    printf("go");
    float a;
    scanf("Enter LTP", &a);
    printf("TheLTPis%f", a);
    return 0;
    }
    The program prints:
    Code:
    go
    I then types in 1.344444

    The output continues:
    Code:
    The LTPisnanPress any key to continue...
    The output always stays the same.
    What is happening there? I've used scanf hundreds of times yet I cant see what is presumably a very simple mistake. Any ideas?

  2. #2
    and the hat of int overfl Salem's Avatar
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    Yeah, there's no % conversion in your scanf call - only what I presume is a prompt which should have been printed with printf.

    Plus the position in which you have float a; makes this C99 code at best.
    If you dance barefoot on the broken glass of undefined behaviour, you've got to expect the occasional cut.
    If at first you don't succeed, try writing your phone number on the exam paper.

  3. #3
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    Ah yes, silly me. Thanks, I guess I've been having too many late nights

  4. #4
    Registered User Scribbler's Avatar
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    If you've used scanf hundreds of times, when did you start using it to output a text string?

    edit: ne'r mind. Looks like you've already seen the mistake

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